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We should have the ability to run any code we want on hardware we own

(hugotunius.se)
2071 points K0nserv | 4 comments | 31 Aug 25 21:46 UTC | HN request time: 0.001s | source
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kylecazar ◴[01 Sep 25 00:24 UTC] No.45088315[source]▶
It's a matter of ownership vs. licensing. You own the hardware you buy, but you license the software. I agree with the author that as long as you use that software, you should be subject to the constraints of the license.

The key is that if you choose not to run that software, your hardware should not be constrained. You own the hardware, it's a tangible thing that is your property.

Boils down to a consumer rights issue that I fall on the same side of as the author.

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1. EvanAnderson ◴[01 Sep 25 00:37 UTC] No.45088369[source]▶
The hardware should not be equipped with undefeatable digital locks. Put a physical switch on the hardware (like Chromebooks have-- had?) to allow the owner to opt out of the walled garden.

Also worrisome are e-fuses, which allow software to make irrevocable physical changes to your hardware. They shouldn't be allowed to be modified except by the owner. (See Nintendo Switch updates blowing e-fuses to prevent downgrades.)

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2. charcircuit ◴[01 Sep 25 02:39 UTC] No.45088935[source]▶
E fuses are needed so people can't downgrade the device to old insecure software to exploit it. Without it or an equivalent like a secure monotonic counter how do you think such attacks be protected?
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3. SchemaLoad ◴[01 Sep 25 02:41 UTC] No.45088949[source]▶
There's a disagreement on who the attacker is. From Nintendo's perspective, the owner of the device is the attacker. From the owners perspective it's Nintendo.

Obviously the parent commenter believes you should be able to exploit your own device and downgrade the OS if you wish.

4. const_cast ◴[01 Sep 25 17:38 UTC] No.45094829[source]▶
Is this is a real threat that's actually happening on a scale that matter or moreso a make believe type thing?

Because I can do make believe type arguments all day. We should lock everyone up, because what if a super astroid hits the Earth and only prison is strong enough to protect them??

See, easy, and kind of fun. Doesn't mean much though.