content: This is correct.  This is neither a backdoor, nor deliberate.    A deliberate backdoor would not just be on a couple Skylake models on laptops, and it wouldn't really be a result of a BIOS / firmware setting having the wrong default value (which isn't Intel's fault anyway).  With physical access to a machine, you have a bunch of fancy options anyway.    If Intel does have a backdoor, it is probably in that management engine.  In theory, that could grant access remotely.  Additionally, not only is the ME code not known (parts are compressed, parts are in sections no one knows how to read), but Intel has jumped through hoops to make sure it is running (with a recent trick finally allowing it to be disabled on a few boxes).  The ME is by far the most rational and defensible place for a backdoor to live- not accidentally leaving the debugger active on a few chip models.    Again, not saying that ME has a backdoor or is malicious- just that it would be the ideal place for one.