Talks to Watch

Trusted Computing? Yes or No

47K views · Mar 18, 2006 · 3:31 · 1 HN recommender · 4 mentions · discussed 2014–2023

A four-minute 2006 explainer on trusted computing, describing what it is and whether users should support it, with a skeptical DRM angle.

Why Hacker News points people here: Cited as an easy-to-understand framing of trusted computing and TPMs as tools that can treat users as threats.

“Here it's put in easy to understand terms”HN comment, 2014

What Hacker News said 4

RecommendsshmerlJun 2014

“Here it's put in easy to understand terms”

Explains why DRM and trusted computing treat users as threats.

Full comment

It's really simple. Trust is a mutual relation. I.e. since DRM always views users as potential criminals, it's natural always to view DRM as potential malware (and thus a security threat). Here it's put in easy to understand terms: this video Practice proves that point spectacularly, because DRM always has an overreaching unethical nature (since it's an overreaching preemptive policing which uses the logic of presumption of guilt). As the Sony exec voiced the core idea behind DRM: > We will develop technology that transcends the individual user. We will firewall Napster at source - we will block it at your cable company. We will block it at your phone company. We will block it at your ISP. We will firewall it at your PC... These strategies are being aggressively pursued because there is simply too much at stake. (See link ). I.e. overreaching nature of DRM straight from the DRM proponents mouth. And it applies to all DRM by its very definition.

in “Netflix Could Be Classified As a 'Cybersecurity Threat' Under New CISPA Rules” · view on HN
Cites itshmerlJul 2014

“Actual usage of that term is more than often happens to be about DRM”

Trusted computing is often about DRM, conflicting with security.

Full comment

> "Digital Rights Management" -- you know, words mean something. They mean what they were designed for. And that is excessive preemptive policing. About "trusted execution" you are wrong. Original meaning of trusted execution is exactly about security, not about DRM. Actual usage of that term is more than often happens to be about DRM (which is conflicting with security actually, because DRM can be viewed as a security risk). See this video If you constantly mix up security, authentication, trusted execution with DRM, I think you should consider your own level of knowing what you are talking about. I explained everything above.

in “How to prevent screenshots in a web browser” · view on HN
Cites itIYashaMay 2023

“decade old presentation on TPM”

A decade-old presentation on TPM.

Full comment

Good? It was never intended to do so. ) Also, made me remember (once again) decade old presentation on TPM: this video

in “AMD's Firmware TPMs Vulnerable to Hardware Attacks, Defeating Disk Encryption” · view on HN
CriticalsquiffsquiffJul 2022

“Not so fantastic for personal devices. Basically this”

Full comment

Sure it's fantastic in a corporate environment. Not so fantastic for personal devices. Basically this: this video

in “The Dangers of Microsoft Pluton” · view on HN