I'm not really the right person to ask, because I don't really do any PC programming. However, I do know that it is possible (though unlikely) that if a PC program writes to an invalid memory pointer, it might overwrite CMOS settings. If it's possible to write to it by accident, it's certainly possible to write to it on purpose, and that also implies you can read it.

But there's a more severe issue to consider. Suppose it was *totally* secure. If the option is *available*, services are guaranteed to appear that require it to be turned on. And sooner or later people are going to see enough services that require it to be turned on that they'll cave in and turn it on.

The only real way to fight this is to refuse to buy a Pentium III or any other chip with this so-called "feature" and hope enough other people are sensible enough to do the same.