Although the recall does not affect the latest Surface Pro 4, its predecessor, the Pro 3, has been credited as the device responsible for turning around the company’s flagging hardware department.

Microsoft confirmed Fenner's findings that the Surface Pro 3 is exposed to TPM Carte Blanche attacks. More recent Surface devices such as the Surface Pro 4, Surface Book are not vulnerable.

The Surface Pro 3 is powered by chips from Intel, Samsung, Marvell, and Winbond, among others, iFixit said. A Microsoft representative wasn't immediately available to comment on the report.

The Surface Pro 3 has held up well after two weeks of constant use, but it's not the Holy Grail of hybrids. First, the bad news -- which is old news, in a way, because it's about Windows 8.1.

Previous versions of the Surface Pro relied on a typical 16:9 10.8-inch full HD, whereas Surface Pro 3 jumped to the now-familiar 3:2 aspect (while also bumping the size to 12-inches at 2160 x 1440).

After several weeks of user complaints, Microsoft has acknowledged heat issues in the Core i7 version of its Surface Pro 3 tablet. In a statement sent to PCWorld, Microsoft avoided using the term ...