daniel-thompsonon Hacker News • Recommends
On “Compiling C Programs Into “Mov” Instructions (And Only “Mov” Instructions)”
These links don't work for me, but the videos are on YT: - link to this video - link And yes, they are spectacular.
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DEF CON 26 - Christopher Domas - GOD MODE UNLOCKED Hardware Backdoors in redacted x86
DEFCONConference
419K subscribers • 61 videos on Hallway • Conference channel
- Recommended by 4 people: 4 on Hacker News.
- A classic. People kept recommending it from 2021 to 2026.
- Presented by Christopher Domas, security researcher
Advanced. Deep dive for people who know the field.
85K views8 years ago4 recommendations
SecurityHardwareReverse engineeringCPUs and computer architectureExploits and vulnerabilities
Christopher Domas demonstrates a hidden hardware backdoor and alternate instruction set built into certain x86 processors.
Complexity is increasing. Trust eroding. In the wake of Spectre and Meltdown, when it seems that things cannot get any darker for processor security, the last light goes out. This talk will demonstrate what everyone has long feared but never proven: there are hardware backdoors in some x86 processors, and they're buried deeper than we ever imagined possible. While this research specifically examines a third-party processor, we use this as a stepping stone to explore the feasibility of more widespread hardware backdoors.Why it's here
4 people recommend thisWhat people say. Highly recommended as a spectacular and mind-blowing demonstration of hardware reverse engineering and processor security vulnerabilities.
MattSteelbladeon Hacker News • Recommends
On “Spaghettifying DRAM”
I cannot wait for the accompanying Black Hat talk. Christopher Domas is one of my absolute favorite all-time hackers. He does such a fantastic job of explaining his work. Some of my favorite talks of his: - Psychological Warfare in Reverse Engineering link - The MoVfuscator link - Hardware Backdoors in redacted x86 link to this video
not1ofUon Hacker News • Recommends
On “Intel updates mysterious ‘software-defined silicon’ code in the Linux kernel”
This guy now works for intel: DEF CON 26 - Christopher Domas - GOD MODE UNLOCKED Hardware Backdoors in redacted x86 link to this video This is one of many amazing videos this guy did before they hired him.
aecsocketon Hacker News • Recommends
On “Spaghettifying DRAM”
Holy shit, Christopher Domas is back. I remember watching his Defcon talks on x86 shenanigans^1^2 and being amazed at what he's been able to discover. Then he got whisked away by Intel and now drops this. I'm excited. ^1: link ^2: link to this video
kbensonon Hacker News • Mentions
On “Everybody Be Cool, This Is a Robbery”
While somewhat interesting, I'm not sure there's much to discuss unless the presentation or details are already available. Interestingly, this reminds me of two Defcon talks I watched in the last day or two, which also cover vulnerability through additional processors onboard.12 1: link to this video 2: link
ddinguson Hacker News • Mentions
On “Dunfield 6809 Portable”
You are taking these ideas into crazy places! Fun to think about. Given this context, I have a few thoughts: Contemporary processors may be interesting when simplified some. Your projects make me think about the Zachtronics games. link That is an assembly language game with surprising depth. People, who play it seriously will learn quite a lot. Using older hardware in tandem with current is a lot of fun. The terminal, for example, still does exactly what it was designed to do and is still useful today. A C64 has a user port for this kind of thing. Apple 2 computers saw all manner of expansion cards capable of data capture, control, computation... making ones own card with a PIA was a stand…
corebufferon Hacker News • Mentions
On “Alternate Instruction Set”
Related: a defcon talk about it (DEF CON 26 - Christopher Domas - GOD MODE UNLOCKED Hardware Backdoors in redacted x86) link to this video Website collecting info on thin clients, which many are VIA, if anyone gets interested in exploring it from a recycled unit: link EDIT: also link - Christopher Domas: Hardware Backdoors in X86 CPUs
throwaway47292on Hacker News • Mentions
On “Web-based editor”
haha maybe Christopher Domas knows :D link to this video x86 god mode but there is a difference between knowing vaguely how internal combustion engine works versus treating your car as a magic box from the future. (which of course now most cars are, you can not even disable the tire pressure alert after you pump your tires without going to the service shop) I fear that nobody will even teach the fetch-execute cycle to our kids.
runnerupon Hacker News • Mentions
On “A PCIe network interface card that adds full router capabilities to your servers”
If the downvotes are due to poor quality discussion, that's fair enough. If they're due to skepticism, here's his talk from the next year: 0: link to this video "DEF CON 26 - Christopher Domas - GOD MODE UNLOCKED Hardware Backdoors in redacted x86"
LinuxBenderon Hacker News • Mentions
On “Ask HN: Do you worry about CPU backdoors like IME?”
…on github and other public repos for disabling ME. Use with care. Test on an identical model of system that is at the same firmware/BIOS and same model of CPU as those tools can brick your CPU. As @rocket_surgeron stated, one can buy CPU's with ME disabled but that will not disable the "God Mode" referenced in 3. 1 - link 2 - link 3 - link to this video…