If anyone feels like researching this, don't look at the BadBios conspiracy, that's an internet meme.
Instead look at things like Intel's trusted computing. Igor Skochinsky (of fame from Hexrays / IDA, and moderator on /r/reverseengineering) has an excellent powerpoint highlighting some research on their Management Engine, which is probably in your computer right now.
pdf: https://github.com/skochinsky/papers/raw/master/2014-10%20%5...
