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Microsoft's 'Palladium' Privacy/DRM Scheme

Posted by timothy on from the ambitious-like-ceasar dept.

Paradox Jack writes: "according to this article at MSNBC, Microsoft has an ambitious new plan called Palladium to rework computer and internet security. This includes changes in hardware, digital rights management (on all sides), and far more. Now, who thinks this will actually work and is for our own good?"

5 of 521 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Oh! The irony!! by Angron · · Score: 2, Informative
    Cringely apparently had the same feelings about Microsoft's motives, a good bit ago.

    -A

  2. Re:good and bad by PacoTaco · · Score: 2, Informative
    From the article:

    One hurdle is getting people to trust Microsoft . To diffuse the inevitable skepticism, the Redmondites have begun educational briefings of industry groups, security experts, government agencies and civil-liberties watchdogs. Early opinion makers are giving them the benefit of the doubt. "I'm willing to take a chance that the benefits are more than the potential downside," says Dave Farber, a renowned Internet guru. "But if they screw up, I'll squeal like a bloody pig." Microsoft is also publishing the system's source code. "We are trying to be transparent in all this," says Allchin.

    Regardless of your feelings about Microsoft, this is a good move on their part. Releasing the source makes businesses and consumers more likely to trust a project of this size and scope. Also, for the technology to reach critical mass, it would need to be integrated into free operating systems as well. (I'm sure the OpenBSD guys are drooling over this already.)

  3. This technology already exists for the most part.. by dlur · · Score: 3, Informative

    Yup there already is a secure OS that provides great strides in privacy as well. You don't need any special hardware to run it, and it doesn't cost you anything. It doesn't include any DRM garbage and it's called Open BSD.

    --
    Duris MUD - The best pkill MUD. Ever.
  4. What irony? by dangermouse · · Score: 5, Informative
    Cripes. This must be the third post I've read saying the same thing, and not one of you get it. Using the name "Palladium" is intentional, and it's not at all ironic.

    It's a brilliant name. They're talking about supplying a Palladium to a Troy, which will thereby prevent things like "Trojan horses" from bringing about the downfall of that Troy. The Palladium provided security. Microsoft wants to supply a Palladium. Jumping Jesus on a pogo stick, man, this isn't that hard to fathom.

    If I may, I'd like to thank my grade school teachers for their emphasis on reading comprehension and critical thinking skills.

  5. Classical irony by Shimbo · · Score: 3, Informative
    As the article mentions, there was an prophecy that Troy was safe as long as the Palladium remained in the city.


    However, a band of smart geeks (erm Greeks) found a back door into the city, disabled the protection mechanism thus leaving the city wide open to attack.