AMD also has a form of the Intel Management Engine (IME). AMD calls theirs the Platform Security Processor (PSP) also known as AMD Secure Technology. Much like Intel's solution, it is a complete system entirely isolated within the physical CPU chip.
The Intel Management Engine stuff goes back a little further than i3/i5/i7 era chips putting it about 2007-2008.
AMD had publicly started to put their "security" solution into their chips around the bulldozer era of chips 2011-2012.
Also, modern motherboards use UEFI bios which is just as worrying as all the stuff in the CPU chips.
There are some projects like coreboot and libreboot to counter the UEFI problem. Society is based on trust though, for example trusting UEFI vs trusting contributors to these other projects. These types of projects are not for the faint of heart. Should you try it I highly suggest a purpose built computer just for that.
Regarding the CPU chips, there's nothing you can do to the chips today. Many people use a single device these days and everything they do is on it. Having multiple devices for certain activities can help a little bit I guess but it only spreads the problem out not eliminating it.
You can always obtain older hardware to try and avoid the "features".
AMD also has a form of the Intel Management Engine (IME). AMD calls theirs the Platform Security Processor (PSP) also known as AMD Secure Technology. Much like Intel's solution, it is a complete system entirely isolated within the physical CPU chip.
The Intel Management Engine stuff goes back a little further than i3/i5/i7 era chips putting it about 2007-2008.
AMD had publicly started to put their "security" solution into their chips around the bulldozer era of chips 2011-2012.
Also, modern motherboards use UEFI bios which is just as worrying as all the stuff in the CPU chips.
So, what do we do? Can we burn any of that out?
There are some projects like coreboot and libreboot to counter the UEFI problem. Society is based on trust though, for example trusting UEFI vs trusting contributors to these other projects. These types of projects are not for the faint of heart. Should you try it I highly suggest a purpose built computer just for that.
Regarding the CPU chips, there's nothing you can do to the chips today. Many people use a single device these days and everything they do is on it. Having multiple devices for certain activities can help a little bit I guess but it only spreads the problem out not eliminating it.
You can always obtain older hardware to try and avoid the "features".