Open-Source Tool me_cleaner: Streamlines Intel ME Firmware for Enhanced Privacy
me_cleaner is an open-source Python script designed to partially deblob Intel Management Engine (ME) firmware, reducing its ability to interact with the system and improving user privacy and security. Intel ME firmware, integrated into all Intel motherboards since 2006, has access to system memory and network, making it difficult to disable or replace. me_cleaner modifies the ME firmware to be inactive during normal operation, activating only during boot, effectively mitigating potential security risks. The tool supports various Intel platforms, but obtaining and flashing the modified firmware requires an external SPI programmer. Results vary depending on the ME firmware version, but generally significantly reduce firmware size, potentially causing minor inconveniences like longer boot times or warning messages.