Trusted Computing And You

sebFlyte writes "There's an interesting look at the Trusted computing initiative running over on ZDNet UK, written by security guru Bruce Schneier. He looks at the suggestions for best practice made in a recent policy document, and Microsoft's 'Machiavellian manoeuvring' to stall said document. He posits their moves are to avoid having to enforce such best-practice when it comes to Vista's DRM and other copy-restriction technology." From the article: "This sounds great, but it's a double-edged sword. The same system that prevents worms and viruses from running on your computer might also stop you from using any legitimate software that your hardware or operating system vendor simply doesn't like. The same system that protects spyware from accessing your data files might also stop you from copying audio and video files. The same system that ensures that all the patches you download are legitimate might also prevent you from, well, doing pretty much anything."

Comments

Sorry, you're too late

[Anonymous Coward]

You're not the first. You were beaten by approximately 151 others on the last time this article was posted.

But don't worry, if you hang around long enough here on Slashdot, you may be able to post on a genuine first-run article. I believe there may be one scheduled within the next few weeks.

Re:Love those dups

[jav1231]

It's not a dupe! It's an echo, echo, echo, echo...

Re:The problem with "trusted" computing

[Anonymous Coward]

The same system that prevents worms and viruses from running on your computer might also stop you from using any legitimate software that your hardware or operating system vendor simply doesn't like.

I'll support anything that will stop these fucking dupes.

Re:Ethics

[$RANDOMLUSER]

Nonsense. If you don't let us protect you the way we want to the Boogyman will get you. Then you'll be sorry.

Signed,
Big Business & Big Government

Re:Let me be the first

[Matthaeus]

And this is true everywhere, not just Soviet Russia.

Re:Ethics

[saintp]

switch ($decade) {
case "the 50's":
   s/the Boogyman/Communist agitators/g;
   break;
case "the 60's":
   s/the Boogyman/acid-eating hippies/g;
   break;
case "the 70's":
   s/the Boogyman/disco/g;
   break;
case "the 80's":
   s/the Boogyman/mutual assured destruction (and Grenada!)/g;
   break;
case "the 90's":
   s/the Boogyman/evil hackers and George Michael/g;
   break;
case "the 00's":
   s/the Boogyman/terrorists/g;
   break;
}

Features of Vista

[SEWilco]

Vista allows you to:

• Play Minesweeper.
• Download trusted security updates for Minesweeper.

Re:Will people realize in time?

[Anonymous Coward]

I'm seriously waiting for the day when a corporation will inseminate a woman for you because it's "easier".

I'm seriously waiting for the day when that corporation is hiring.

Re:Ethics

[LesPaul75]

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syntax error at funny.pl line 12, near "case "the 70's""
syntax error at funny.pl line 15, near "case "the 80's""
syntax error at funny.pl line 18, near "case "the 90's""
syntax error at funny.pl line 21, near "case "the 00's""
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Execution of funny.pl aborted due to compilation errors.

Re:Let me be the first

[jonadab]

> To say I don't trust "Trusted Computing".

Yeah. The conversation goes something like this...

Microsoft: We want to build a platform that is totally trustworthy. So I guess the question is, what should be trusted?
Security Experts: That's actually a good, albeit complicated, question...
Microsoft: Whom and what should users trust? Whom and what *do* they trust?
Security Experts: Hmmmm...
Microsoft: Lesse... First off, they're going to trust Microsoft, obviously...
Security Experts: Err, good luck with that.
Microsoft: ... and our business partners, ...
Security Experts: Oh, dear...
Microsoft: ... and the government, and major corporations, ...
Security Experts: We're not sure we like where this is going.
Microsoft: Hush. We've got it all figured out now.