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Up-to-date TCPA Member List

Posted by timothy on from the who-do-you-trust-and-how-much dept.

Michael Ritter writes "This night, the AgainstTCPA project released an up-to-date version of the TCPA memberlist. Instead of the already known 184, it lists 200 companies, including newly joined VIA and Sony. Three companies that were listed on the old one are missing on the new list. See the full list..."

4 of 15 comments (clear)

  1. Old hardware becomes valuable.... by brianjcain · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Start gathering old (or at least current) hardware now. If you're good at soldering, you might be able to wait a bit longer -- modchips will probably work on the first generation TCPA products.

    Yeah, TCPA is pure evil. Make no mistake, I can't stand the fact that everyone's on board with this. But at least some good things might come about -- not having to remember 1000 passwords would be kinda cool. (Especially on your computer at work, where those Nazis are conspiring to control your every move anyways.)

    1. Re:Old hardware becomes valuable.... by Alsee · · Score: 3, Interesting

      You can simply switch off TCPA.

      Actually there's a good chance programs will be able to "cheat" and access TCPA even when you disable it. This question was covered in the interview with the AMI BIOS representitive. He acknowledged the issue but gave an inadaquate analysis of the implications.

      He said that there were three possible ways to "switch TCPA off". (1) in software (2) as a BIOS setting or (3) a hardware jumper on the motherboard. In case (1) software can obviously switch it back on. In (2) things are more complicated, but software may still be able to switch it on. The only way to be sure TCPA is off is if the motherboard manufactures CHOOSE to make it a hardware switch AND they do it in a way that LOCKS the hardware in a totally inert state.

      IMO motherboard manufacturers are unlikely to choose method (3). It's easier to manage things in software and dealing with motherboard jumper settings is a nightmare for tech support.

      The AMI representitive sort of dismissed it by saying that it would take a reboot to establish a proper boot sequene root of trust. Two problems. Either the software can demand a reboot as part of the instalation process or the software can activate TCPA and make do without the proper bootup root of trust. It wouldn't be fully according to spec, but it would still work. And if they are going to "cheat" by activating your disabled TCPA then there's no reason they wont cheat be working around the missing boot sequence as well.

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      - - You can't take something off the Internet! That's like trying to take pee out of a swimming pool.
  2. 4 of top 5 PC vendors by bill_mcgonigle · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Four out of the Top 5 PC Vendors are on the list (HP, Dell, Gateway, IBM).

    Only Apple is missing. I guess they'll stick to "Don't Steal Music".

    --
    My God, it's Full of Source!
    OUTSIDE_IP=$(dig +short my.ip @outsideip.net)
  3. Ignore it and it will go away by freestyle-fiend · · Score: 1, Interesting

    If 'Trusted' features are opt-in only, then won't I be able to run my box with a TCPA processor in exactly the same way that I do currently? Won't some of these manufacturers continue to sell some processors without these 'features'?

    I see no reason for any of these manufacturers not to do both. The processors which are not part of TCPA ought to be cheaper because they don't do everything that the TCPA processors do and are simpler to make. After all, a large section of the market will just reject trusted computing.

    I still see the problem that if there are *any* 'trusted' computers, then there will be content that I can't use. Though I object morally on these grounds, I have to live with that already.