AMD silently removes memory encryption from consumer Ryzen CPUs, leaving users unaware that they may be vulnerable — security feature vanishes after newer AGESA firmware, AMD engineers go radio silen…
https://www.tomshardware.com/pc-components/cpus/amd-silently-removes-memory-encryption-from-consumer-ryzen-cpus-leaving-users-unaware-that-they-may-be-vulnerable-security-feature-vanishes-after-newer-agesa-firmware-amd-engineers-go-radio-silent-when-pressed-about-the-changeOpen linkView original on lemmy.today
"AMD engineer" in this case is actually "senior principal software engineer", which translates to "management". Who was likely told by the VP over his department to STFU based on what the VP was likely told by their legal dept.
Context is important.
AMD has been winning big in the enthusiast space since Ryzen started taking off. Recently, they've made a lot of opaque and anti-consumer moves. I guess they've decided to start burning some of that good-will they've been building... Meanwhile, intel seems to be warming up? As the pendulum swings, I suppose.
On the other hand they're fighting the HDMI forum to get open source drivers released for hdmi2.1 120hz, vrr, HDR, 4:4:4, etc.
As is tradition when the underdog becomes the overdog(?)
And a bit premature too...
Am i correct in my understanding that if I've got a Ryzen CPU running Linux, and assuming I've not gotten hit by this beforehand, I'm safe so long as I don't pull newer microcode packages from the repos?
This Ars article is better. https://arstechnica.com/security/2026/06/users-cry-foul-after-amd-stripped-memory-crypto-from-its-consumer-cpus/
It looks like it's from a BIOS update. I'm not sure if the microcode packages will do it too.
Do you know if you actually had this enabled and working?
Not really, it's mostly the interest of how to diagnose this kind of stuff and pre-prepare for it.
This is good info to know. I want to check my 5800X3D.