"Trusted Computing" is Threatening Your Rights Over Your Computer

[stuh505]

I just read that several major computer manufacturers (Dell, HP, etc.)
recently began selling computers with so called "trusted computing"
modules.  This is a very important technology, and it is VITAL that
every computer user understand it, because it will fundamentally change
the way you use your computer.  Trusted computing modules are a bit of
hardware that act like a lock for your whole computer.  They get to
decide which programs get run, and which don't.  This lets computer
manufacturers make new features like email that can't be forwarded, or
music that can only be played on one machine.  They can put an end to
viruses and spam.  They way they do this, however, is VERY SCARY.

Trusted computing is not about you (the user) being able to trust your
computer.  Trusted computing is about computer manufacturers being able
to trust you.  This is because the computer manufacturers do not give
you the key to the trusted computing module when you buy your computer.
  They keep it, and use it to decide whether or not you may run any
particular piece of software.  Trusted computing means that they decide
whether or not you get to access your pictures 10 years from now, or
whether you need to pay them to do it.  Trusted computing is about
whether or not you may access a web site or not without their
permission.  Trusted computing is about ending the free exchange of
information that the internet has created and replacing it with a small
group of companies that get to decide what you see and hear.
Television, movies, news, music, emails, and IM can all be censored
effectively using trusted computing.  They say they won't, of course,
but can you trust them to keep their word?

Trusted computing is here and now.  However, before they can lock us
out, they need to gather a critical mass of trusted computers such that
users have a choice of using trusted computing, or not communicating at
all.  The next computer you buy, ask if it has a trusted computing
module.  If it does, ask if they will give you the key to it.  If they
say no, then you know that they want to keep control of your
information and communication.  Don't buy, and tell them why.  Without
a critical mass of trusted computing modules online, they are
powerless.  Tell them you'd rather deal with spam than have a computer
that doesn't trust you.  And tell your friends about trusted computing.

The above is my understanding of trusted computing, but you should
decide for yourself.  I encourage you to visit the following links, and
learn about trusted computing yourself.  These links were among the top
10 results in a google search for "trusted computing", and I would
encourage you to conduct your own research as well.  Feel free to
forward this message.

http://www.newsforge.com/business/02/10/21/1449250.shtml?tid=19
http://www.cl.cam.ac.uk/~rja14/tcpa-faq.html
https://www.trustedcomputinggroup.org/home
http://www.eff.org/Infrastructure/trusted_computing/20031001_tc.php

[Flippy_D]

*Note to self: Stay the fsck away from freaky deaky Orwellian companies*

[Peter Thomas]

hmm, this information has been out for a while. It's widely known Windows wanted/wants to use Trusted Computing with its Longhorn release.

Realistically, it won't happen. Well, okay, it probably will but it won't inflame with the hype everyone's given it. There are other alternatives out there - maybe not as big and corporate, but if people really are scared crapless about all this, then they'll go to a different company, and pretty quickly that company will be getting lots of money to improve, and the rich competitors will have to back down.

It's quite a scary concept, though. Very scary indeed, if you really have a look at it's potential

[Radiant]

For additional reading material, might I suggest http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_Restrictions_Management

And I fully agree that it is scary. IGNORANCE KILLS. The corporations count on Joe Average being ignorant of the consequences. I've already found .WMV files on the web that refuse to play unless Windows Media Player first 'registers' them with some server somewhere (which thankfully my firewall won't allow).

So in addition to the above, I'd suggest everyone to BOYCOT file formats that are inherently protected (e.g. WMV) and instead use free formats (e.g. MP3, MPEG, JPEG). Also, do not trust Microsoft with your computer security, use third party firewalls and ad blockers. Why? Because they do not ignore things that microsoft wants ignored.

[Ishmael]

I better start building my own computers from now on...

I really hope people get this, that it isn't a good new thing, and that it just restricts you...

And I've had .wmv files on boycot for some time. The rights checking is annoyting >.< and what if I want to view the vidoe offline? Nocando. It's for the security. BLEH! : F-Secure Internet Security does it's job well enough for me, the firewall is firm and the virus scan efficient. No spyware or viruses to be seen. And I'll never be updating to XP SP2...

[Barbarian]

Ishmael,

WMP Scripting Fix might help:

http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/wmpscriptingfix.html

"Javacool" site has some great little security utilitiies, and it's free too.
I also suggest getting thier "Spyware Guard" program too for extra protection against SpyWare:

http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareguard.html

[BOYD1981]

i don't really see that kind of technology taking off with people that actually know how to use computers, as for newbie idiots that download and run every programme and email attachment they come across, such as my sister, it could help keep them safe...
however, and i'm basing this on the fact i haven't checked out any of those links because i'm too busy being too lazy to do so, if it seems to only be manafactured computers then it's only a problem for people that buy them, and it won't be long before the really smart people that don't waste their time dreaming up stupid concepts for things that will supposedly stop piracy and viruses and spam find ways to bypass and/or disable the feature and make the people that came up with the ideas and put money into researching it look like idiots...

[Adamski]

If this technology took off it wouldn't take long for the hackers to circulate firmware updates that'd disable it, or something along those lines.

[SSH]

Yeah, and we can trust hackers to update our firmware, can't we?  :

[Radiant]

I'd trust a hacker over Bill Gates ten days out of nine.

[Adamski]

The sort answer, yes. How many people who browse this forum have multi-region hacked their DVD players, I wonder?

[scotch]

Well the multi region "hacks" were built in by the designers generally, right?  But I'd trust any firmware I can read the source code to, or someone with more knowledge in the area can.  It sounds like these things are on a more fundemental hardware level that firmware is not going to fix.  However these aren't the only companies capable of making chips, it is too restrictive to take off in the worst form, people would jump ship to other platforms and operating systems.

it's probably the worst thing MS could do to themselves if they went through with it.

[stuh505]

I have no fear of actually having trusted computer on my computer...I'll put my computer together myself and avoid their bullshit.

What I am worried about more is that certain software might be set up to NOT RUN unless you use trusted computing.

For instance, there is already a lot of software that requires hardware Dongles and to me that is just not cool.

[edmundito]

This is slighly off topic, but I hate how winxp service pack 2 treats everything like a virus. It's like getting the classic "this program has performed and illegal operation and must be shut down" for every single thing you do online. And it also makes everyone more confused and scared.

*download AGS*
Me: *clicks on Run*
Windows XP: OMG! THIS SHIT IS A VIRUS!!!
Me: No dumbass, it is not. *click*
Windows XP: AAHHHH!!! BOO!! BOO!! BOOO!!! BOO!
Me: *SIGH* Start>Shut Down>Shut Down Forever because I Hate You.