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Microsoft Pluton - How bad is this on a new Intel/AMD laptop running Linux?
(learn.microsoft.com)
this post was submitted on 17 Dec 2024
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Why aren't more people talking about this? It been here at-least since the last two generation of CPUs from AMD (from my research worst offender) and Intel.
Likely because of this:
Microsoft Pluton is currently available on devices with AMD Ryzen® 6000, 7000, 8000, Ryzen AI and Qualcomm Snapdragon® 8cx Gen 3 and Snapdragon X series processors. Microsoft Pluton can be enabled on devices with Pluton capable processors running Windows 11, version 22H2 and later.
Emphasis mine. It's an optional function, and this sounds like it's targeted to businesses who either provide or have IT services. So like TPM, you can use it or not, and given the sharp rise in ransomware and other attacks, I can see why a business might want to use it.
How bad is it? I dunno. It seems to be so "noteworthy" that nobody is talking about it, and it sounds very optional.
'optional' just like the functions Intel ME provides?
Vendors are no longer actively implementing the pluton spec. It's not in itself equivalent to Intel ME, whereas something like platform security processor (aka PSP - based on ARM TrustZone) could be considered a closer equivalent.
can you please explain in a little more depth? are you saying pluton is basically dead in the water and is likely to disappear from implementations in silicon in the near future?
Pluton capable hardware is present on a wide range of contemporary IHV offerings (requires TPM2 hw on the SoC) but OEMs selling devices with these don't seem remotely interested in enabling it.
Vendor uptake has been minimal, and participating vendors seem to have changed their minds and stopped, though I don't think this will affect hw implementation as that wasn't really governed by Microsoft to begin with.
I can't personally say. Beyond my knowledge.
It seems to be so “noteworthy” that nobody is talking about it, and it sounds very optional.
I mean not to be a tin foil hat but they are not going to admit to negative side effects. Take issues with right to repair and how they fly under the radar. John Deere is a big offender that affects everyone and few will know. Your food supply should be noteworthy.
I appreciate your analogy, and I recognize that the numerous Linux kernel maintainers haven't so much as made a peep about this in the last two years—plenty of other drama, but not that.
It could be that it has flown under everyone's radar, or it could be that it's not anything to worry about (yet?).
Most Pluton devices on the market have it off my default and I am not aware of any device where you can't disable it (on x86).
Pluton is a weird thing. It's not dedicated HW designed or produced by Microsoft, it's more of a specification which requires something like TPM2 hardware on a given SOC.
Most vendors do not implement the pluton spec in their offerings.
From their description it seems like just another tpm - like chip with extra functionality. That "cloud to chip" stuff seems to be marketing bs to me, possibly a tpm like chip that can only be used by Azure services? Doesn't seem to me that it overrides the os in any way, so Linux would probably just ignore it withou the right drivers.