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NVIDIA Begins Requiring Signed GPU Firmware Images
An anonymous reader writes: In a blow to those working on open-source drivers, soft-mods for enhancing graphics cards, and the Chinese knock-offs of graphics cards, NVIDIA has begun signing and validating GPU firmware images. With the latest-generation Maxwell GPUs, not all engine functionality is being exposed unless the hardware detects the firmware image was signed by NVIDIA. This is a setback to the open-source Nouveau Linux graphics driver but they're working towards a solution where NVIDIA can provide signed, closed-source firmware images to the driver project for redistribution. Initially the lack of a signed firmware image will prevent some thermal-related bits from being programmed but with future hardware the list of requirements is expected to rise.
- To implement a chain of trust.
- To tighten their control.on the hardware you paid good money for.
- To fight terrorism, childporn, illegal goods.
Nonsense, it's not on Nvidia to stop fake cards, its on law enforcement.
Actually, if it cuts their into sales because purchasing NVidia is perceived as risky, then it makes complete commercial sense to make changes to protect people who think they're purchasing NVidia. It's straight dollars and cents.
Now perhaps NVidia is only using this as an excuse to launch their evil conspiracy, but as excuses go, it's completely legit.
(And while I'd love to make fun of you for the evil conspiracy business, the NSA's actual shenanigans have made that impossible. When the utterly improbable has turned out to be true, the completely ridiculous now becomes only highly unlikely...)
On the other hand, nothing tastes quite as good as the tears of an engineering group that put several million dollars into R&D for a DRM scheme, just to have it broken by a Swedish teenager three days after their product goes live.
I'm trying to teach myself to set people on fire with my mind... Is it hot in here?