Intel’s Sandy Bridge Processor Has a Kill Switch – Slashdot. It’s remotely activated over a 3G network — no Internet connection required. It’s advertised as a way to turn off the machine if it is stolen.
DDOS anyone?
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by Michael Froomkin
Laurie Silvers & Mitchell Rubenstein Distinguished Professor of Law
University of Miami School of Law
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It looks like this isn’t as bad as it might seem. The code’s on the chip, but you still need (a) to have a 3G modem somewhere in your system (it isn’t on the silicon), and (b) for the machine to be powered up. So it may be more of a corporate safeguard for tablet computers than a government/hacker backdoor.