This may be an ignorant question, but how do we know what every part in a computer does? Yes, we can choose the OS, but do we all know what every single chip does on a motherboard? Like, EVERY chip, not the CPU or main ones, but the innocuous chips that are strewn across a motherboard. Now, I know some of you will go "yes, I know what they do", but do you inspect every motherboard you own in detail to see what they do?

What am I getting at? Well, I know it's totally paranoid, but what if some agency out there in other countries who build these things are putting things on the boards to send telemetry data back. Perhaps something small and quick now and then while the computer is online. Something that you don't even notice unless you're constantly monitoring the internet traffic in and out. And the traffic itself could be something innocuous also. Something that slips under the radar.

I know I know, I'm totally paranoid here. But does anyone here worry about that at all?