This maybe a dumb question but i became paranoid all of a sudden and wanted some answers because i can’t find it anywhere else nor can i sleep without it. Like even if i did flash linux on a lets say amd laptop couldn’t the chip itself be spying on me ? Also i understand bootloaders are stored or rom is there a way to know what else is stored on it are roms open source ? Are cpu’s open source and companies like asus store their logos and shit on their mother boards so what else could they be storing ? Are there open source alternatives for these parts ? Are we all being privacy cautios for nothing ? I know we can use firewall but wouldn’t the chip integrated have the ability to bye pass it ?
I know there are linux laptops but having a pre installed linux and some switches isn’t gonna solve the problem do they use open source roms and motherboard ? Are there any fully open source chipsets ? I want to know the same about smartphones too ?
There’s a chance, OP, that you might have carbon monoxide poisoning if it’s true that you “became paranoid all of a sudden”. For anyone with gas appliances, regularly check that your CO detectors are working.
I don’t mean this as a diss or to invalidate your (totally valid) concerns about data privacy.
I’ll always remember that Reddit (it feels awkward typing that name here…) post where a user discerned from a post that the OP was likely suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning. OP checked it out and there were high levels in his house, random internet stranger basically saved the guy’s life.
I hope lemmy gets some super interesting posts that become core lore for the entire user base like this one was for reddit.