From: Luke Kenneth Casson Leighton Date: Tue, 16 Jul 2019 10:32:03 +0000 (+0100) Subject: add purism draft update X-Git-Url: https://git.libre-soc.org/?a=commitdiff_plain;h=fdebec0460ac699ee99da3b7269646e7b34884c5;p=crowdsupply.git add purism draft update --- diff --git a/updates/019_2019jul16_purism_donation.mdwn b/updates/019_2019jul16_purism_donation.mdwn index 45bb7d9..e431225 100644 --- a/updates/019_2019jul16_purism_donation.mdwn +++ b/updates/019_2019jul16_purism_donation.mdwn @@ -11,14 +11,18 @@ fund the Libre RISC-V hybrid CPU/GPU through the NLNet Foundation. Their donation provides us some extra flexibility in how we reach the goal of bringing to market a hybrid CPU, VPU and GPU that is libre to the bedrock. -Purism started with a crowdsupply campaign to deliver a modern laptop -with full software support and a coreboot BIOS. I know that, after -this initial success, they worked hard to try to solve the "NSA backdoor -coprocessor" issue, known as the "Management Engine". Ironically, inspired -by Purism, Intel's internal efforts became moot, as a 3rd party reverse -engineered an Intel BIOS and discovered the "nsa\_me\_off\_switch" parameter, -designed to be used by the NSA when Intel equipment is deployed within -NSA premises. +Purism started with a +[Crowdsupply campaign](https://www.crowdsupply.com/purism/librem-15) +to deliver a modern laptop with full software support and a +[coreboot BIOS](https://puri.sm/coreboot/). +I know that, after this initial success, they worked hard to try to +solve the "NSA backdoor coprocessor" issue, known as the +["Management Engine"](https://libreboot.org/faq.html#intelme). +Ironically, inspired by Purism, Intel's internal efforts became moot, +as a 3rd party reverse engineered an Intel BIOS and discovered the +["nsa\_me\_off\_switch"](https://it.slashdot.org/story/17/08/29/2239231/researchers-find-a-way-to-disable-intel-me-component-courtesy-of-the-nsa) +parameter, designed to be used by the NSA when Intel equipment is deployed +within NSA premises. Purism then moved quickly to provide a BIOS update to disable this "feature", eliminating the last and most important barrier to being able @@ -29,12 +33,13 @@ privacy invading hardware "by default" for which Purism deserves our respect and gratitude. However, just as NLNet recognise, Purism also appreciate that we cannot -stop at just the software. Profit maximising Corporations just do not +stop at just the software. Profit maximising Corporations just do not take the brave decisions that can compromise profits, particularly when -faced with competition: it's too much. +faced with competition: it's too much. This is why being a Benefit +Corporation is so critically important. Socially-responsible decisions +do not get undermined by profit-maximisation. -So we are extremely grateful for their donation, managed through NLnet, -the Charitable Foundation. +So we are extremely grateful for their donation, managed through NLnet. # Progress