Messages on start up – What do they mean?

[Ben]

“ME” is the Intel Management Engine, which is basically a hardware-based spyware.  Useful for companies to keep track of their electronics and make sure no one is installing pirated software on company-owned devices, but for an end-user it is just one more thing that might be accessed remotely.

“ME FW update failed” means that something is trying to change its behavior… maybe as innocent as a Windows update, maybe malicious, no way for you to tell at this level.

If you don’t have a use for the management engine, protect your privacy by turning it off in the BIOS settings.

[Brian]

Ben, thanks for that. Since reading your explanation, I have explored on Google and, though I`m not clear why, Intel has included this by default with little fanfare, for me at least.

I have had a look at the BIOS to disable it (just to stop the messages – I presume that would happen?), but cant see anything looking like it might be it that has an option to expand/modify its settings. Can you point me to where I might do this?

Perhaps of more importance, the Googling suggested that it offers  remote access to the machine – hackers? Ive never seen any scare stories about such an activity, but because I dont know enough about it I am suspicious. Have you left it operational on your machine?

Brian

[Author]

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