Micromanaging Your Computer - Part 4, what the media are saying.

[Calum]

I put this in feature articles because i intend this thread to be about media coverage of the new hardware and software scheme which seems to be being summed up by the words 'Palladium' and 'TCPA'.

Here's what i have found so far:

http://www.cnn.com/2002/TECH/ptech/06/25/microsoft.security.ap/index.html" target="_blank">From CNN.com:  

quote:
June 25, 2002 Posted: 10:14 AM EDT (1414 GMT)
Microsoft discloses ambitious new security effort

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Microsoft Corp. has disclosed an ambitious new project to improve security by creating within its Windows software a virtual "vault" where customers would conduct electronic transactions and store sensitive information.

The effort, called "Palladium," would require consumers to buy new computers and other devices equipped with ultra-secure computer chips from Intel Corp. and Advanced Micro Devices Inc., which already are involved in the project, or other companies.

The project's success also depends on broad consumer adoption of such devices, since these highly secure computers could safely exchange information only among themselves.

Microsoft said the technology, which stemmed from early work by its engineers to deliver digital movies that couldn't be pirated, won't be available for at least 18 months. Company officials have told other executives in private briefings they do not expect to see mainstream products for at least five years.
'Road map' to a new paradigm

"We're so early in the process, we're really just drawing the road map," said Mario Juarez, who is running the project for Microsoft. "This won't happen tomorrow or next year."

The project was first reported by Newsweek, although Microsoft officials have discussed their efforts privately for months in meetings with technology and civil liberties groups in Washington and elsewhere.

Some industry experts were skeptical of Microsoft's chance for success.

"If this works, it will be the first time in the history of computing that it works," said Bruce Schneier, a cryptography expert and author of "Secrets & Lies, Digital Security in a Networked World."

"Lots and lots of encryption is broken all the time because it's done wrong," Schneier said. "The odds are actually zero this will be secure."

David Farber, the Federal Communications Commission's former chief technologist, said he was "somewhat satisfied" with Microsoft's plans, but he will watch closely to ensure the company doesn't try to use Palladium to control the world's software markets.

"One has to keep their feet to the fire on how they use it," said Farber, who testified against Microsoft during its antitrust trial. "Right now, I don't see any signs there's any devious plot."
A discerning eye

Supporters said the technology, to be offered as an option in an upcoming version of Windows, would be able to distinguish safe software from data containing viruses or other malicious computer code. The technology could be turned on and turned off. Customers could store within this part of Windows personal details, such as financial or medical records, that is encrypted and otherwise inaccessible even from other software running on the computer.

"Users can be assured that your intentions are properly carried out," Juarez said. "No one can masquerade as you. They're not on your computer."

Microsoft's efforts are similar to those of the Trusted Computing Platform Alliance, an industry group also working on new hardware technology to let computers distinguish "trustworthy" software. IBM has already shipped new laptop computers featuring such security chips.

http://www.msnbc.com/news/770511.asp?cp1=1" target="_blank">From MSNBC.com:

 

quote:Palladium is intended to become a new platform for a host of yet-unimagined services to enable privacy, commerce and entertainment in the coming decades.

[Refalm]

As I said before, computerusers number 4 (click here for more info), the trendy people, need the latest. This also includes the latest Windows.
Number 1 (productive users) will defferently not choose Palledonium, because they know better, number 2 (computer know-how users) will hesitate. Some will, but the most won't buy Palledonium.
Number 3 (simple users) will buy it if Microsoft provides enough commercials, saying that their new OS is revolutionary. Also, when the latest software for Windows won't run on Windows 9

[NullPointer]

Yeah Calum saw the article by Ross Anderson - the Palladium FAQ... which is excellent http://www.cl.cam.ac.uk/~rja14/tcpa-faq.html  

Another good one to look at (although a bit techy, and not really going out on a limb regarding implications) is:

http://www.cs.umd.edu/~waa/TCPA/TCPA-goodnbad.html by William Arbaugh.

Quote:
"The privacy aspects of the TCPA implement a “trusted third party” system where the user presents their identity and receives an anonymous credential from an anonymity certification authority (the trusted third party), see the above technical discussion. There are two major problems with this approach. The first is that if a user requests several anonymous credentials—the “trusted third party” can still link ALL of the anonymous credentials to the user because of their knowledge of the user’s identity. The second problem is that if the “trusted third party” ever colludes with a true name certification authority (or more likely companies along with their registration information) then it is easy to attach the user’s real identity with their anonymous identities by matching public keys. While the proponents for the TCPA will argue that this will never happen, they can not guarantee nor prevent it."

In a nutshell he's saying that the likelihood of Microsoft colluding with goverment agencies to see the contents of your emails / files / webpages your looking at, is quite high.

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[NullPointer]

Some more links:

What the hun say:
http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/features/2002/jul02/0724palladiumwp.asp

What TCPA themselves have to say:
http://www.trustedcomputing.org

http://news.zdnet.co.uk/story/0,,t269-s2117858,00.html

http://www.epic.org/privacy/consumer/microsoft/palladium.html

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[KernelPanic]

The UK magazines PC Pro and Linux Format have both featured Palladium. Guess which gave more facts...