IBM Shipping More PCs with Trust Chips

rts008 submits this EWeek story about IBM shipping more computers with trusted computing inside. Since the article mentions none of the downsides, we should: trusted chips will eventually be used by software manufacturers to make sure the computer's owner does not do anything with the software which the manufacturer does not want to permit.

Comments

Re:Paranoia or truth?

[Cyclops]

Yeah, paranoia is fun and all, but I wouldn't mind a few links to support the downsides claim.
You'ld think IBM would know better than to associate the word "Trust" with "Technology". That combination is like a buzzword for suspicion to the Tech-wise.

Are the `Trusted Computing' Frequently Asked Questions a good start for you?

You should also read Can you trust your computer? and The right to read, both by Richard Stallman

This last particular one is very insidious about effects made possible by Treacherous Computing.

Re:Trusted computing is already here...

[MoonBuggy]

Yes, it's already here in mobile phones and it's already been used to cripple a perfectly good handset's bluetooth stack meaning images can only be sent over the cell network at an extortionate data rate rather than being beamed straight across the gap between two bluetooth phones. I think I'll take my chances on the viruses thanks. BTW, I'm running some nice open source apps on my P900 which I doubt would've been created if they needed signing (maybe why I can get apps for my SE P900 but I never could for my T610) - hell, even Opera Mobile Browser came up with an 'unsigned code' warning when I installed it, but I can click 'install anyway' on the Symbian model and I'm quite happy with that - there's no override on the T610.

Re:michael

[Anonymous Coward]

The hardware doesn't enforce crap. It provides a layer that can't be modified by software (ie: "trusted") to perform certain operations invoked by software.

Paranoia Sunday Apparently

[OS24Ever]

Man, did anyone read the article or check out how IBM markets them on their webpages? These things are for encrypting documents, passwords, storing things you don't want people to get to easily. I've sat through a few seminars and presentations from IBM and how they tout this is to protect your DATA from other people, not protect a copyright holder from you.

Re:Can I trust my computer?

[einhverfr]

Most fo the software I run consists of stable, widely accepted projects which have good maintenance records and a large community of coders behind them.

I trust this software more than I trust software from businesses who do not have the incentive to put out quality products....

Re:IBM

[linguae]

You're correct. Both articles talk about how Steve Jobs and Apple don't support "trusted" computing.

Trusted != Trustworthy

[MacGabhain]

From a security standpoint, the word "Trusted" refers any entity (computer or not) which is able to violate the security policy, and thus is "trusted" not to do so. "Trustworthy" refers to entities which are reasonably believed to be sufficiently unlikely to violate the security policy, and thus are worthy of being trusted.

Given this particular definition, "trusted" is exactly the right thing to call this sort of hardware, although perhaps "blindly trusted computing" would be better.

IBM TCPA Rebuttal Faq

[fluce]

IBM published http://www.research.ibm.com/gsal/tcpa/tcpa_rebutta l.pdf this FAQ about TCPA two years ago.

It aims to describe the difference between TCPA, MS Palladium and DRM, and explains what TCPA is usable for (crypt personnal data, store passwords,etc.), and what TCP is unusable for (restrain software execution).