[stcredzero]

Your chipset is a little computer. It can execute programs in parallel and independently from the main CPU!

So, basically, the "trusting trust" extends to even your chipset. Basically, the majority of people are doomed to be the subjects of those controlling the means of production. Most of those few who have the wherewithal to peer past the curtain can easily be bribed and intimidated into cooperating.

Tinfoil hat on: I wonder if such vulnerabilities might have been concocted as a means of sneaking backdoors into the technical projects of non-US countries?