TCPA: Be Afraid, Be Very Afraid (if you use a PC)

macmegasite ^ | 02/23/2003

[gaucho]

Here's yet another reason to be glad we don't use a Microsoft OS. The Trusted Computing Platform Alliance, headed by Microsoft & Intel, provides both hardware and software standards that will allow only licensed operating systems to run on a machine. This means unlicensed operating systems such as Linx can no longer even be installed on a TCPA-compliant system.

In a not so distant future (2004) the TCPA hardware will take charge, when you turn on your PC. This onboard chipset checks the integrity of your boot ROM, executes it and measures the state of the machine. After that, it checks the booting process of your operating system. If the chipset detects a TCPA-compliant OS it will load and execute it. Furthermore, the chipset maintains a list of your hardware (means: soundcard, videocard etc.) and checks them for TCPA-compliance, too. So, let's assume, Fritz (remember? the name of the chipset) detects, that all the stuff in your PC is on the TCPA-approved list, it will be finally happy and boot your system to the login screen. Be careful: If there are significant hardware changes, you will have to go online and re-certify your machine (like XP does).

After the booting process, Fritz hands over the control to the software part of TCPA: Palladium.

This piece of Operating-System-Integrated software is going to determine what you are allowed to do with "your" PC. Let's say: What you are not allowed to do with. Before you can start an application or open a document, it checks wether it thinks you are allowed to or not. No, that's no joke. It really does. Via the Internet, Palladium keeps an up-to-date list of software (the blacklist), you can't start. One can imagine what's on that list. e.g: every kind of cracking / hacking software, illegal copies and so on. Sounds like Microsoft installed a DRM via the backdoor? And that's not even all it is. Every PC with a Fritz chip has an unique ID. Only the software you bought for THIS ID (means: your PC) would be able to run. There's not even the chance to sell software you don't use anymore. Palladium / Fritz won't allow it to run on ANY other machine. There's also a blacklist for documents. Imagine: You're not able to play one of your thousand MP3's anymore, because they don't have a valid certificate, even though the original CD sits in your rack. Not one of your Movies. You also gave Microsoft the permission to delete all the files, once it has found them. You don't believe me? Read the last EULA of your Media Player.

For more information, visit http://www.notcpa.org/.

[gaucho]

Seems like MS will never be happy unless they can fully control their users.

[TSgt]

Then some hacker will find a way around it or people will stop buying Microsoft's software. I guess I just bought my last copy of Windows...

[The Duke]

I'm looking forward to the day I can turn off every tube in the house and once again work on my tennis serve. To hell with Microsoft and those who would control my life to such an extent!

[rivercat]

Gee... Then the PCs will be like Apple products!

[DManA]

This is just wacky. The majority of PCs in use aren't connected to the internet. Why would MSFT sell a product most users couldn't use?

Before you can start an application or open a document, it checks wether it thinks you are allowed to or not. No, that's no joke. It really does. Via the Internet, Palladium keeps an up-to-date list of software (the blacklist), you can't start.

[Bush2000]

Seems like MS will never be happy unless they can fully control their users.

Seems like Mac users will never be happy unless they can bash other operating systems...

[Bogey78O]

Hmmm...So either I dump all MS apps or I take an anal probe....

Gee, what do you think?

I think MS has guaranteed I'll never do business with them again.

[John Valentine]

Dare I say it?

You don't know what the flake you are talking about. Apple does not implement these technologies. And given the uproar that will arise and the marketing window that will open ofr Apple as a result, I sure hope that they don't.

[John Valentine]

And where does this come from?

I can't see even any little bit of PC bashing by Mac in this story at all. This seems to be PC users up in arms about some very restrictive policies that have nothing whatsoever to do with Apple, Mac, or any Mac users.

Except that Apple is not part of the TCPA consortium, much to their credit, I might add.

[Bogey78O]

I'll put it to ya this way Bush2000,

when you stop looking at a PCs as a revenue source post sale then you'll stop all the linux and Mac users in their tracks.

For all the animosity you have towards the Baby Bells at least we were honest back in the day that the phones and all equipment was our property and not the customer who was leasing it. But oddly enough MS wants to treat PCs as if the user is only leasing it from MS.

[jbstrick]

I work for a company whowas trying to migrate over 30,000 users from various email platforms to Microsoft Exchange 2000. That was, until MS's new licensing fees. It appears they lost a big customer (no. 4 oil co) to a competitor. Microsoft believes they are the only game in town.

[Quix]

I don't believe BG is the AC,

But he sure seems to have learned at the same school and support the same brand and degree of tyrany.

[Quix]

My feelings, too.

They are going to force me to dust off my Linux machine sitting silently in my bedroom.

I just hate such transitions.

And how long before a burst of magnetic energy from war is going to fry all of them?

Sigh.

[Quix]

They are the only game,

AND

They feel it's their UNDIVINE SATANIC RIGHT

to be the only game in town--since obviously they don't support Godly things--like lots of Biblical vocabulary is not in their dictionary etc.

[Hank Rearden]

Yes, the "Mac 3-percenters" ghetto squeaks up again.

No worries; this will die a marketplace death quickly, be hacked even more quickly, or both.

Owning and controlling your computer is about freedom to run your machine. This won't change.

I wonder what the Macmoonies will do once they're relegated to being 1-percenters?

[philetus]

My W2k pro will last me the rest of my life.

You couldn't pay me to go to XP.

[blam]

Welcome aboard FReeper #100,175.

[craqed]

you should support free software such as GNU licensed software. the programs are MUCH better in that if a problem/bug is found it is typically rectified quickly and not waiting for 3 or 4 months just to identify the problem.

check out www.gnu.org (for gnu lic'd OS - Linux info, just one site gonna list here)
also check out www.linuxapps.com for freeware/gnu/shareware type apps for linux (and other free OSs).