[pkaye]

Isn't the whole purpose of this IME to facilitate remote updates and management of systems? As for patching hardware, Intel does have the ability to apply microcode patches. At the least they are able to disable features that are buggy.

[bigiain]

Sure - it's _possible_ to patch the microcode - but can your dentist's receptionist do it? Or your mom? Unless there's a tool that automatically applies security microcode updates as easily and as widespread as automatic Windows updates - it's really only of use to enterprise/corporate networks... I've never bumped into a small or medium sized business that runs remote management for all the machines on their office networks...

[pkaye]

I know the Linux kernel on my Ubuntu system applies microcode patches early on bootup. I also know that Microsoft has microcode patches as updates. For example https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/3064209/june-2015-i...

[tsomctl]

Windows update does distribute microcode updates. For example, https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/3064209/june-2015-i...