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The Dell workstation with TPM 1.2 has an intel 955x chipset and we know that the intel LA955XBKLKR has an STMicro TPM. Maybe just maybe, Foam
http://www.intel.com/design/motherbd/bk/bk_available.htm
Time for the trusted disc drive!
May 12, 2005
http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/archive/2005/May/12/biz/stories/02biz.htm
Seagate rated as market-share Giant
Sentinel staff report
SCOTTS VALLEY -- Bolstered by record quarterly unit shipments and revenue, Seagate Technology confirmed Wednesday analyst reports that it has strengthened its lead as the top name in hard disc drives by holding the No. 1 position in overall market share, and the No. 1 spot in three of the four key markets, including consumer electronics, enterprise and desktop computing.
Seagate is also the only company of the top four competitors in the mobile/notebook computing market that is growing in unit shipments.
"Hard disc drives are everywhere now, and they are enabling a digital lifestyle in ways the world has never before seen," said Bill Watkins, Seagate chief executive officer. "Our industry is at the beginning of a growth cycle that could be as big as the PC revolution of the 80s. Consumer electronics is the primary growth driver, because people are voracious when it comes to getting more gigabytes for their MP3 players, their TVs, gaming devices and PCs. And cell phones, autos, digital cameras and storage in your home appliances will soon be eating up even more gigabytes and terabytes of hard disc drives."
The disc drive industry is projected to exceed $30 billion and 550 million units annually by 2008, according to Gartner Research, up from $21.4 billion in 2004. Seagate is shipping almost 10 million more drives per quarter than it did two years ago.
The most recent report from Gartner Dataquest identified Seagate as the leader in hard drive shipments. Among the 10 companies tracked by Gartner Dataquest, Seagate holds more than 28 percent of the total market for disc drives, more than 10 percentage points higher than the nearest competitor.
Seagate also bolstered its No. 1 spot in the consumer electronics market with nearly 30 percent market share. In addition to being the most widely adopted disc drive for hand-held music players, Seagate drives have been adopted by more TV digital video recorders than any other brand.
Interesting research report on DRM (TCG mention)
DUBLIN, Ireland, May 5 /PRNewswire/ -- Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c16920 ) has announced the addition of Digital Rights Management: Strategies for Rich Media Content to their offering.
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20040820/RESEARCH )
Digital content delivery, content protection, intellectual property rights and distribution management, and a secure, attractive transaction mechanism are the main challenges in today's digital market.
The music industry has been the highest-profile talking point of the digital debate, partly because the visible parts of the business model select, pay for, and download three or four-minute pop songs appear to be so simple. Along with SMS (Short Message Service), MMS (Multimedia Messaging Service) and email, it is the proverbial killer application, but it is one that has shaken an industry to its core. Not only do the Internet and other interconnected information networks provide unprecedented means to access and share content beyond geographical boundaries and time constraints, they also provide an unprecedented means to discuss it and to share information about what is going on.
This briefing document brings together the essential elements of the digital rights debate providing a balanced review and analysis for players operating in the sector.
Organisations Mentioned in this report include:
4C Entity, AACS, AMD, AOL, Apple, BDA, BeepScience SA, Bluetooth, Buongiorno, CFFORUM, ContentGuard, CoreMedia AG, Creative Commons,DMDSecure, Dolby, elata, EMI, ETNO, Guardian, Hewlett-Packard, IBM, Intel, Intertrust, ISMA, LG Electronics, Loudeye, Macrovision, Microsoft, Motorola, Movielink, MPEG, MUDDA, Napster, Nokia, Noodle Heaven, OASIS, OD2, OeB, OMA, Open Mobile Alliance, Orange, Overdrive Inc, Panasonic, Philips, Realnetworks, Reciprocal, Reuters, Roxio, Samsung, SMPTE, Sony, Sseyo, Symbian, Tao Group, Time Warner, TiVO, Toshiba,Trusted Computing Group, TV-Anytime, VeriSign, Vitaminic, Vivendi Universal, Web Services Interoperability Organisation, World WideWeb Consortium.
Phoenix making a move in embedded space.
http://www.windowsfordevices.com/news/NS2717483295.html
May 11, 2005
Phoenix Technologies is showing off its arsenal of security management tools at this week's Mobile and Embedded Developers Conference. The company says the tools provide identity management at the device level, improving end user security and allowing developers to protect against unauthorized use of applications once they're deployed.
Phoenix says its Phoenix Security SDK (software development kit) lets developers build applications that work with the device security features built into its TrustedCore firmware for embedded devices. For example, it can be used to implement device authentication, Phoenix says.
FirstWare Recover Pro, another tool in the Phoenix line, allows device firmware to be restored to a previously saved state, even if the operating system won't boot due to a virus infection or other fault. It supports incremental image save and restore functions, Phoenix says.
Phoenix updated its TrustCore device firmware line last month, claiming compatibility with all industry initiatives and Trusted Computing Group standards.
Philips anticipating Longhorn TC push in consumer space?
Standardized, and Protected, Display Interface
Tom Karpik - Wednesday, May 11th, 2005 / 10:08AM (PST)
http://www.neoseeker.com/news/story/4621/
On the brink is a new unified standard connector for external displays, with the capability for protecting content.
The Video Electronics Standards Association ("VESA") said Monday that a few key electronics and component OEMs are on the brink of finalizing a standard unified interface for LCD, plasma, CRT, and projection displays, dubbed "DisplayPort". Products with the new technology will likely begin rolling out in early 2006.
VESA's strategy for DisplayPort is two-pronged: accelerate the adoption of high-definition digital displays (manufacturers are drooling), and replace the mess of confusing standards and incompatibilities associated with them. DisplayPort is primarily aimed at replacing DVI, which is beginning to show its limitations when it comes to certain high-def displays, though standard analog VGA and the short-lived HDMI are also targets. Bill Lempesis, a spokesman for VESA, seemed to imply that HDMI had already been put on the back-burner, before most displays with the interface standard have even shown their faces.
So far, so good ...
DisplayPort is apparently part of a shift toward "trusted" computing, where a trusted OS kernel would transfer trusted data according to certain permissions, displaying it only on certain trusted devices. The content protection system for DisplayPort is being developed by Philips, and leverages many existing content protection components including AES encryption, Lempesis said.
Microsoft's "Longhorn" OS is being designed with a trusted capability, and the company's latest version of Microsoft Office also allows a user to establish permissions for documents. Trusted Platform Modules, the independent chip that serves as the hardware foundation for trust, is already mounted within millions of PCs. So far, ATI, Nvidia and other graphics makers have remained mum about specific plans to provide trusted graphics accelerators that would only display content if approved by the content's author.
... Though there's the snag. I'm all for fair use rights, but I also respect the wishes and certain restrictions that content owners put on their stuff. If I buy a movie, I don't care what kind of protection is on the media/content, as long as I can play it on my hardware with no catch. If I can't rip it to give a copy to a friend, I'm not going to complain (nor should anyone else) -- that's a violation of copyright laws, and I respect that. Now we arrive at something like this.
In my opinion, this is going a bit far. Suddenly I don't have the power to view content on a certain display if Manufacturer/Producer X decides that they don't want me using that display with their content? What will this lead to?
"Sorry, you can't play this movie on such a ginormous TV screen -- it will amount to public broadcasting."
"Sorry, you are licensed to view this content on only one type of display -- you cannot play this movie on the TV connected to your PC."
"Sorry, the manufacturer of this low-end display has not paid us enough royalties, and we cannot allow you to view any movies on it."
Sure, I'm probably exagerrating (then again, how do I know?), but by allowing companies to pursue and implement this kind of technology, we're only giving them the leash to our choke chains. It's all fun and games, until they decide to give it a tug.
Interesting how mainstream TPM concept is becoming
Gifts for Grads: Top-Rated Laptops
05.10.05 Total posts: 1
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1759,1814559,00.asp
By Jennifer M. DeFeo
We know buying a laptop--whether for yourself or someone else--can be difficult, especially with so many great products on the market today. Whittling down your choices can be frustrating and time consuming. Well, worry no more. We have you covered. We've selected our five current top-rated favorites from the manufacturers you already know and love. One is sure to suit your needs perfectly.
When choosing a laptop, there are a few things you should know. First, how portable does it need to be: Will it primarily sit on a desk in your home office and not move? Will it roam with you from room to room? Will it accompany you on your frequent trips? If the latter is true, weight and screen size will be a major consideration. For roaming around the house, you'll want something mid range, say 6 to 7 pounds max, and a screen no larger than 15.4 inches. If you're a serious frequent flyer, you'll want to go even smaller. Our current favorite is the Toshiba Portégé R200: It weighs just 2.7 pounds.
If you'll be using the laptop more for business than pleasure, you'll want to make sure it's reliable and has top security features like TPM or even a fingerprint reader. The IBM ThinkPad T43 is an excellent choice. Though it won't wow you with its multimedia capabilities, it'll help you stay productive and secure in and out of the office.
If price is your main concern, our first word of advice is don't be sucked in by the super low prices swirling around your Sunday circulars. You cannot get a quality laptop that will last for less than $500. You can, however, get a great laptop for anywhere from $800 to $1,000. To achieve those ultra-low prices you see in the circulars, systems are typically cheated. They'll have tiny hard drives, say 20GB, and only 128MB of memory, which isn't even enough, really, to run the OS at its best. System must-haves when shopping the value category (get a pen, write it down): 512MB memory, 40GB hard drive, a DVD/RW combo drive, and 802.11g wireless. If a system you're looking at doesn't have the above features, seriously reconsider purchasing it. Our favorite value system, the Dell Inspiron 6000, blew us away with its offerings and its low price.
If you want to join the digital media craze, there are plenty of laptops to choose from, all boasting a better media experience then the next. A widescreen--preferably, one that has glossy treatment for movie watching--should top your priority list, as should having the latest Media Center 2005 OS. (Though many will try to lure you with proprietary software, none can compete, save for Sony's VAIO Zone, with Media Center Edition.) Many of these laptops, like our current favorite, the relatively inexpensive HP Pavilion dv4000, let you record TV, archive and edit your photos, organize your music, and even play games. But not every multimedia system does all these things well, so think about what you want to do and go from there. Also note, if TV and video is at the top of your list, opt for the largest hard drive you can, which is currently 100GB found on the Sony Vaio FS-570. (It won't be long before you're hunting down external drives, trust us.)
By now should have an idea, at least, of what type of system you're interested in, and if not, no worries, we have a slew of laptop buying information to help you along. To make it even easier, we've organized our top favorites in an easy-to-scan table, so you can comparison shop for your laptop.
OS makers: Security is job No. 1
Published: May 10, 2005, 4:00 AM PDT
By Matt Hines
Staff Writer, CNET News.com
http://news.com.com/OS+makers+Security+is+job+No.+1/2100-7355_3-5697133.html?tag=nefd.lede
Look beyond the bells and whistles, and make sure the security's tough.
That's the attitude of operating system makers, who aren't just focusing on features such as snazzy graphics and better networking tools when revamping products. Now they're also providing sturdier defenses.
The new generation of OSes includes improvements aimed at keeping data more safe. Microsoft, long the target of hackers' efforts and resulting customer ire, has promised anti-spyware and other tools in the upcoming version of Windows, code-named Longhorn. And while they aren't as aggressive about marketing their security efforts, Apple Computer and Linux-seller Novell recently released updates with an eye to stronger defenses.
That doesn't mean companies aren't still serving up other advances, such as smoother collaboration or more-comprehensive search. But given home PC owners' growing worries about security, OS makers are aiming to prove they are trying harder to prevent software vulnerabilities and protect against outside attacks.
"The OS makers know that their futures depend on the trust that buyers have with their products, and buyers aren't trusting computers today," Forrester Research analyst Ted Schadler said. "We know that people are downloading less music, shopping online less and steering away from online banking because of security fears."
Several high-profile incidents of data theft, such as the ChoicePoint breach, have highlighted the need to protect confidential personal information. Alerts about phishing and other online fraud schemes have further publicized the risks. On top of this, malicious code writers have not let up on sending out traditional PC viruses.
Even though these consumer security threats sometimes take advantage of weak points in technologies other than operating systems, or exploit people's habits, OS makers often bear the brunt of the blame for them, Schadler said.
"(Security) is a problem that consumers are increasingly aware of and angry about, and they want to blame someone," he said. "The OS players are taking notice because they have to."
For Web designer Eugene Abovsky, 23, helping his friends and family members keep their PCs running smoothly and securely in his spare time has become an uphill battle as security concerns multiply. Abovsky works only with Microsoft's Windows, and he said that juggling patches and warding off "malware"--malicous software--have become time-consuming ventures that leave him frustrated with the software giant.
"Microsoft should be ashamed at the level of protection they provide to the average consumer who uses Windows," he said. "Almost all of the Windows computers I deal with in the homes of people I know have been so infested with spyware, malware and adware that they are almost unusable."
For Microsoft, the dominance of Windows and a string of high-profile vulnerabilities have translated into serious headaches around attacks and security. In addition, the company's software has historically come under more attack from hackers than that of its rivals.
To respond to these, Microsoft developed its Trustworthy Computing initiative, launched in 2002, which aims to improve the security and public perceptions of its products. It also issues a monthly bulletin of security patches, and its last significant update to the full version of Windows, Service Pack 2, was centered on security.
The results of those efforts have produced, in Longhorn, an operating system that will more aggressively defend computers, said Greg Sullivan, lead product manager at Microsoft. Among other defensive moves, it actively fights the installation of malicious programs such as spyware and automatically quarantines devices that could have acquired viruses outside home or business networks, he said.
"Clearly we have a very significant role to play in making sure that our platform is one that customers can use safely and securely, and that's
why we're investing so heavily in Longhorn to improve the underlying architecture," he said.
Some of the planned security tools in Longhorn, whose delayed launch is now scheduled for 2006, are likely to put Microsoft in competition with third-party security software vendors such as Symantec. However, Symantec and others have said they remain unthreatened by Microsoft's development of onboard antivirus measures and anti-spyware.
At Apple, security may not be the primary thrust of its introduction of Mac OS 10.4 Tiger, but the company said it is more focused on helping consumers protect their computers than it has ever been before.
The main security concept in designing Tiger, released at the end of April, was to let people see more clearly every program running on their computer, according to Apple executives. That visibility should make it harder for malicious programs to install themselves or hide in documents or Web pages that may appear to be harmless, they said.
Brian Croll, senior director of software product marketing at Apple, said the company's most productive strategy in securing its OS was to make the core architecture available to the open-source community. "We get an incredible amount of peer review through that process, which really helped to secure the foundation of Tiger," he said.
A debate has been raging over whether open-source or proprietary operating systems are more secure. Because access to proprietary source code is closed, it's less likely to be exploited, say supporters. Open-source backers argue that the support of a programming community means more eyes are examining and working on the code, so that bugs are likely to be spotted and fixed sooner.
Novell's recently released consumer OS, SuSE Linux Professional 9.3, is built on open-source underpinnings. Executives from the company said that even though the design of its products might be more transparent than that those from Microsoft or Apple, Novell's approach to security is likely similar to that of its proprietary rivals.
"Whether its Linux, Tiger or Longhorn, you have to treat security as a process rather than a state," said Roman Drahtmueller, Novell's Linux security architect. "It's not going to be only a feature or solution or a product that can make your environment or network secure, it's about the procedures and processes regarding how software security is treated in general. We may think that Linux does a better job of that, but I believe all the vendors are looking at security in this manner."
Security upgrades in the new generation of OSes range from improvements in the underlying architecture to the inclusion of anti-spyware and other tools, the manufacturers said.
For Apple, the most important new security features in Tiger are technologies that help consumers control the programs they add on top of the OS, said Wiley Hodges, a senior product line manager at the Mac maker.
"Obviously, user behavior largely dictates the security of an OS," Hodges said. "We understand that, and it has helped dictate a lot of what we've done…We've focused a great deal on the ease of making a system secure out of the box and helping to maintain that security in the long run."
Novell's focus was on letting people dictate which security features and strategies they use, Drahtmueller said. And rival Red Hat said the new Linux subsystem in Enterprise Linux version 4, introduced in February 2005, greatly strengthens the security of the product's underlying coding.
The bolstering of security in Longhorn began with the building of the OS on Microsoft's Windows Server 2003 SP1 code base, Sullivan said. Much of the improvement available through that code is related to strengthening, or "hardening" of the programming kernel at the core of the software, he said.
Overall, the OS makers agree that consumers will play the greatest role in keeping their computers safe from outside threats, by using good judgment when going online or in sharing information with others. But the vendors concede that OSes will remain a focal point for people figuring out the best way to defend themselves.
Apple's Hodges said that's fine with him, since in the end, the OS software will be the most significant line of technological defense that consumers can rely on.
"Users, at some level, ultimately have some responsibility for what they do," he said. "It is the responsibility of the OS vendors to make it easier for customers to understand and implement the security capabilities of their systems."
IBM to launch new security software
Published: May 8, 2005, 9:01 PM PDT
By Dawn Kawamoto
Staff Writer, CNET News.com
http://news.com.com/IBM+to+launch+new+security+software/2100-7350_3-5698443.html?tag=nefd.top
IBM is expected to announce new security software on Monday which allows a businesses' employees, partners and customers to securely share information over the Internet.
Tivoli Federated Identity Manager is the company's first federated security software, although this is not its first foray into the federated realm. Last October, at the urging of a client, IBM joined Liberty Alliance, an Internet security consortium that's developing industry standards for verifying a person's identity when he or she accesses Web sites.
Federated identity allows employees, customers or partners to log on to a company's Web site, get their identity authenticated and then have that site vouch for their identity while they try to gain access to other companies' Web sites and networks.
"Employees who want to look up heath care benefits may have to look at a third-party site and, typically, would have to enter another log-on name and password," said Joe Anthony, IBM Tivoli's identity management director. "Now, they could link in automatically to that third-party site."
The federated identity manager will allow users to sign on for internal and external services throughout the company and to contact any of the company's partners authorized to use the TFIM.
The product is compatible with several federated identity standards and specifications, including Liberty, SAML, WS-Federation, WS-Security and WS-Trust.
TFIM is expected to begin shipping later this month, Anthony said.
Industry analysts say the product will go head-to-head with Computer Associates' identity management offerings.
Computer Associates, via its Netegrity acquisition last year, offers Web services security management and identity access management.
"It's still an open question how CA will put all its pieces together" now that it has acquired Netegrity, said Jason Bloomberg, a senior analyst with ZapThink. "It's still a horse race."
OT-Interesting development re:DLNA -Digital Living Network Alliance.
http://star-techcentral.com/tech/story.asp?file=/2005/5/3/itfeature/10817630&sec=itfeature
Digital home, digital living
MANY of us have yet to set up a digital home but the idea is already being expanded to include new features and devices.
The Digital Home Working Group, which recently changed its name to Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA), plans to extend content sharing beyond the home, and it calls this digital living.
So, it is no longer just about content sharing between the PC and TV – in the future you should be able to access your favourite movie stored on your PC from your mobile phone while you are trekking in the jungles of Africa.
The change in name also marks the transformation of DLNA from working group status to a formal alliance which will help it iron out standards even more quickly.
While DLNA is still working on the new concept of digital living, it encourages companies interested in making products for the digital home to meet its Home Networked Device Interoperability Guidelines v1.0 so that their products will co-exist with others, it said.
Companies are also encouraged to get their products certified under DLNA and the DLNA certification logo programme is expected to be available to group members by the middle of this year, it said.
Formed in June 2003, the alliance is made up of cross-industry organisations in consumer electronics, computing industry and mobile device space, and has over 145 members in 14 countries. Among the companies in the alliance are Fujitsu, HP, Intel, IBM, Kenwood, Lenovo, Microsoft, Nokia, Philips, Samsung, Sharp and Sony.
Cosign - Diebold is developing an ATM with TPM, while this article is specifically talking about "online banking" using a personal computer (or mobile). They are not unrelated since elctronic devices are increasingly being networked through IP (internet protocol) and so will all need common security standards (like TCG). For the time being the two are distinct developments, but they are increasingly becoming interelated. Regards, Foam
TC&Banking. Very interesting piece on the need for TPMs in online banking. The game is definitely afoot. Regards, Foam
http://www.computerworld.com/securitytopics/security/story/0,10801,101407,00.html
MAY 02, 2005 (COMPUTERWORLD) -
Yellow Light for Online Banking
New research from TowerGroup has found that advances in online fraud pose a significant and fast-growing threat to consumer confidence in online banking. New approaches go beyond e-mail-based phishing scams and include the use of spyware, remote administration tools and various methods of hijacking browsers. In the face of this evolution, the practice of requiring a username and password as the sole means of online customer authentication is becoming rapidly outdated, the Needham, Mass.-based research firm states. In its report, TowerGroup advocates two-factor authentication as a vast improvement in security.
Broadcom Adds Hardware Security
Broadcom Corp.'s newest NetXtreme Gigabit Ethernet controllers will include integrated Trusted Platform Module 1.2 functionality. TPM is a security standard created by the Trusted Computing Group for a hardware-based secure computing environment. Broadcom noted that the integration of TPM on its NetXtreme network interface controllers means a higher level of PC security can be placed on motherboards at negligible incremental costs.
New IPS Line
NitroSecurity in Portsmouth, N.H., will announce its newest intrusion-prevention system product line tomorrow. The NitroSecurity IPS 6.0 suite includes an event management tool designed to identify and neutralize internal and external attacks in real time. In addition, it draws from the industry's largest signature library and powerful anomaly detection methods, allowing for seamless integration with routers and switches located across enterprise networks of all sizes.
Doma - Based on what evidence are you stating it as fact that HP/Infineon will develop their own KTM Server? Just haven't seen anything confirming this yet. Best regards, Foam
Lincoln - That is indeed a wonderful read. Everything has its own time and our own clumsy haste isn't always well synchronized with the larger pattern of things. Let's hope the wheel of fortune spins our way in the coming months. Cheers, Foam
Awk - Wave's server infrastructure does require that OEMs license Wave's CSP, if I'm not mistaken? With regard to TNC, the need for Wave's ACM server would seem to be an essential requirement (or someone else's server solution, if such a product exists). How else could endpoint integrity (in a strong sense) be established on a wide corporate basis. Best regards, Foam
Gokite-Atmel&NTRU targeting embedded space with TPM at Embedded Systems Conference in Sept. 2005
http://www.callcenterdemo.com/ESCe05/a.asp?option=C&V=1
ATMEL-
SEC-500] Overview of the Trusted Platform, the Trusted Platform Module and Applications
Speaker: Kevin Schutz (Product Manager, Atmel Corp)
Time/Date: Monday (September 12, 2005) 9:00am — 10:30am
Submission Proposal History: New
Formats: 90-Minute Class
Key Takeaways
Learn basic security terms, definition of the Trusted Platform, architecture of the Trusted Platform Module and design considerations
Audience level: Introductory
Prerequisites
n/a
Presentation Abstract
Security is a key issue for connected embedded systems that are susceptible to malware and other attacks and in many cases, have sensitive data or limited access that should be protected. Learn about the concepts of trust and Trusted Platforms and get a review of basic security terms. The session will review the architecture of the Trusted Platform Module component and its application in embedded systems with examples of system design shown. There also will be discussion of development of software for these systems.
Track: Embedded Security Seminar
NTRU-
[SEC-503] Writing Trusted Applications for Embedded Systems
Speaker: William Whyte (Director of Products & Services, NTRU)
Time/Date: Monday (September 12, 2005) 2:30pm — 3:30pm
Submission Proposal History: New
Formats: 60-Minute Class
Key Takeaways
Learn how to write applications for embedded trusted systems and key attributes of these systems.
Audience level: Intermediate
Prerequisites
Overview of Trusted Computing recommended.
Presentation Abstract
Embedded devices with the Trusted Platform Module (TPM) can store digital certificates, keys and passwords and enable strong authentication, data protection, access control, secure VPN and peer-to-peer networks and safer commerce transactions. This class teaches how to develop applications for these usages to build on the TPM. Developers will learn about the open spec called the Trusted Software Stack and available tools and techniques for writing trusted applications, as well as a short overview of the TPM and its capabilities in embedded systems.
Track: Embedded Security Seminar
Lagrande still far out in the future?
This just keeps getting more confusing, I have to admit. Who is going to run with this ball?
http://www.computerweekly.com/articles/article.asp?liArticleID=138102&liArticleTypeID=20&liC....
Intel has been developing LT for years as part of its Safer Computing Initiative, but says it is not expected to be available in business desktops and mobiles for another two or three years.
CREDANT Technologies Joins Trusted Computing Group; Leader in Mobile Security Will Support TCG-Enabled Platforms With CREDANT Mobile Guardian
Tuesday April 26, 6:00 am ET
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/050426/datu044.html?.v=6
DALLAS, April 26 /PRNewswire/ -- CREDANT Technologies® has joined the Trusted Computing Group (TCG), an independent organization devoted to the creation of standards for strengthening the computing platform against software-based attacks. As the group has gained traction with more traditional security standards, it has branched out to include security for mobile devices, the area in which CREDANT is the market leader.
"Data security has become an ever-increasing concern for companies with different kinds of mobile devices in the field," said Brian Berger, TCG marketing work group chair. "CREDANT's expertise in the mobile security market will be a valuable contribution in the development of future specifications and products in this area."
As part of TCG, CREDANT will help develop standards and implement solutions for mobile security. The company continues to introduce new applications for its award-winning Mobile Guardian security offerings, and membership in TCG will help ensure those applications evolve in step with security standards. Adherence to standards will minimize barriers to adoption by providing a common user experience across different TCG-enabled platforms while ultimately contributing to improved security for sensitive data stored on mobile devices including laptops, PDAs or smartphones.
"The Trusted Computing Group is dedicated to something we believe in very much -- the need to reduce complexity while securing the important data housed on mobile computing devices," said CREDANT Technologies President and CEO Bob Heard. "We are committed to helping develop the security standards and products that will govern future security measures for mobile devices."
More than 100 companies worldwide are current TCG members, including Hewlett-Packard, IBM, Intel, Microsoft, Sony, and Sun Microsystems and many leading mobile systems and services vendors. TCG has active work groups for servers, mobile devices, storage, peripherals and other implementation specifications. Hardware and software specifications have been completed and are available on the organization's website.
Never saw this article -on Wave at RSA Conference
http://www.nwfusion.com/newsletters/nt/2005/0228nt1.html
Wave Systems aims to strengthen authentication to Windows
By Dave Kearns
Network World Windows Networking Tips Newsletter, 02/28/05
At the recent RSA Conference I came across a few companies I hadn't noticed before, some of which might be interesting for you to take a look at. One example is Wave Systems.
I sat down with Wave's President and CEO, Steve Sprague who was ably assisted by Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing Brian Berger, as well as John Callahan, the Vice President of Corporate Communication. "Assisted" is perhaps too strong a word. Berger and Callahan were probably there to make sure I didn't bolt and run while Sprague gave me the full blast of proselytization about Trusted Computing and the Trusted Computing environment that Wave's Embassy Trust Suite (ETS) provides. Not that Sprague was trying to brainwash me or anything, but he really does have strong feelings about Trusted Computing and about how best to implement it.
If you're not familiar with the Trusted Computing initiative (which relies on hardware-based security), visit the Web site of the industry group Trusted Computing Group (https://www.trustedcomputinggroup.org/home) for all the details.
You'll also want to visit Wave's Web site (http://www.wave.com) to learn more about the company, but to whet your appetite here's a selection of the features I saw in ETS:
* Security Center - establishes security policy management to strengthen authentication to Microsoft Windows and other secure applications with multifactor authentication capabilities, including fingerprint biometrics.
* Document Manager Vault - protects files and folders in multiple, networked, sharable secure drives that are compatible with Microsoft Windows Explorer.
* Private Information Manager - stores and automates user names, passwords and personal information in a secure environment including personal notes and multiple identities per login for the same user.
* SmartSignature - digital signatures for electronic contracts in a secure environment.
* Key Transfer Manager - back-up protection of the hardware encryption keys used for critical PC data and integrated with the ETS applications for enterprise needs.
* Secure E-mail - Trusted Platform Module (TPM)-based certificates for e-mail encryption using Microsoft Outlook.
* Secure EFS - configures Trusted Platform Module-based certificates in Microsoft's Encrypting File System (EFS) file and folder encryption.
* Secure Wireless Authentication - TPM-based certificates for strong authentication to an 802.1x-compatible wireless access point.
And that's just a small sampling of what ETS can do for you. If you're concerned about security - and who isn't these days - you owe it to yourself and your organization to at least take a look at hardware-based security as embodied by the Trusted Computing Group and Wave Systems' Embassy Trust Suite.
RELATED LINKS
Dave Kearns is a writer and consultant in Silicon Valley. He's written a number of books including the (sadly) now out of print "Peter Norton's Complete Guide to Networks." His musings can be found at Virtual Quill.
Kearns is the author of three Network World Newsletters: Windows Networking Tips, Novell NetWare Tips, and Identity Management. Comments about these newsletters should be sent to him at these
respective addresses: mailto:windows@vquill.com, mailto:netware@vquill.com, mailto:identity@vquill.com.
Kearns provides content services to network vendors: books, manuals, white papers, lectures and seminars, marketing, technical marketing and support documents. Virtual Quill provides "words to sell by..." Find out more by e-mail at info@vquill.com
More on China & Global Media-on-Demand Platform
http://au.news.yahoo.com/050420/3/u1op.html
Breakthrough MOD Platform Ignites Interest In Home Entertainment Industry
LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 19, 2005-- ADVERTISEMENT
China Government Policy Organizations, China Technology, Broadband Companies Support Revolutionary 2nd Generation PC, Global Media-On-Demand Platform
China Government policy making organizations and media certification agencies along with China's leading technology and broadband companies are banding together for the first time ever in support of a revolutionary end-to-end global media-on-demand entertainment system that will launch in China late this year and eventually deliver rich media content direct to the consumer, globally.
A high level delegation from the Government of China traveled to the National Association of Broadcasting (NAB) Show in Las Vegas this week to declare their support for the IDV Global Media On-Demand platform and to invite U.S. media companies to supply TV shows, sports events, movies and other interactive entertainment to the China market, which is growing exponentially. By 2008, when the Olympic Games go to Beijing, China is expected to have half the world's total Internet users.
The IDV GMOD platform encompasses software, hardware, content, encryption, encoding, content certification, distribution network, payment system and business protocols. China media companies will also be providing content to the joint venture, allowing Chinese TV shows, culture programs, games and news about preparation for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games to reach U.S. consumers.
"Now U.S. media publishers and distributors have a direct platform on which to earn millions of dollars in incremental revenues from their content in the China market," said Dr. Fan Yeqiang, deputy director, China Institute of Policy Studies (CIPS), a government think-tank that studies and forms policies for China. "We are offering a safe, certified delivery system never available to U.S. media companies before."
The IDV GMOD network could let basketball fans in China pull up a Yao Ming game they missed or want to see again. Americans abroad could access Jay Leno's Entertainment Tonight monologues. China publishers and distributors will also have a powerful, direct platform on which to export rich media content like performances of the Peking Opera or the movie House of Flying Daggers.
"From the very start, the China Government policy-makers at CIPS were impressed by the original vision and breakthrough GMOD solution developed by IDV," said Fan. "Since the dot-Com movement began, which has consumed the creativity of IT, PC and media industries for the past 10 years, the world has been waiting for the next big technology revolution. We've seen the introduction of many transition technologies like IPTV. However, IPTV and the other broadcast era Video-on-Demand (VOD) solutions are regional, costly to implement and not being accepted by the consumer. None of them offer what the digital consumer wants -- a next generation platform that delivers high quality content, 24 hours a day, on demand."
The IDV Superbox(TM) that will be the delivery hardware for the GMOD platform is a second generation PC featuring a unique `Platform-on-Platform' 3D architectural design that offers powerful new functions and features. The interface offers a totally new look, with universal icons, a global channel map and space for advertising.
"When you see this PC in operation, you get really excited," Fan said. "The interface is so attractive, and so easy to navigate, people all over the globe will be able to use it immediately. I think it is superior to Windows in so many ways. In fact, I would say the IDV Platform is Yahoo, Dell and Microsoft, all rolled into one."
The IDV GMOD platform, to be available in China in early 2006, will offer consumers a massive global archive of premium movies, TV shows, sports event programs from around the world, as well as advanced games and online game play at amazingly high speeds in DVD and HDTV quality. The IDV GMOD platform could also deliver interactive E-Learning Content (ELC), suggesting it could be a future online education platform.
The IDV GMOD platform uses existing PC and Internet/broadband infrastructure, as well as offering integration with China's IPv6-based second generation Internet and UWB (Ultra Wide Band).
Content will be available through IDV's direct distribution network via the IDV Superbox and also from the Internet via IDV's dot-TV Internet channels, SHOWS.TV, GAMES.TV, SPORTS.TV and MOVIES.TV, on a global basis.
The China MOD Coalition will guide content partners through a media certification process to assure programs meet China's national media standards.
"This integrated Media Certification System (MCS) is the first of its kind," said Fan. "It demonstrates that IDV GMOD is sensitive to the nuances of the China market.
Coalition partners met on April 12, 2005 in People's Hall in Beijing, China. The platform, reviewed against IPTV and other Video-on-Demand (VOD) technologies by CIPS, a group that sets business and technology direction for China, has received strong endorsement and support from the China Ministry of Information Industry (MII); the Foreign Affairs Department, State Administration of Radio, Film and TV (SARFT); Information Office of the State Department; China Computer Examining and Appraisal Center; the National Informatization Evaluation Center; the China Electro-Information Industry Academy Strategy Lab; and China Household Electronic Appliances Research Institute (CHEARI), the first time so many government organizations have backed a technology coalition in home entertainment.
China Netcom and MinYing Telecom have indicated their interest in being providers. Tsinghua Tongfang, China's second largest PC manufacturer, has expressed interest in building the hardware for the system, the IDV Superbox.
At the recent IDV GMOD Forum in Beijing, many China Government policy makers and technical advisors had high praise for the company.
"I am impressed with IDV. The executives have a remarkably good understanding and comprehension of current technology and the consumer market," commented Xiong Chengyu, professor, Tsinghua University, director of the New Media Studies Centre and a leading consultant on IT to the Chinese Government. We have too many networks: telecommunications networks, computer networks, TV networks. We need a platform to integrate all of these."
"I agree with IDV that the integration of the PC and the TV will happen in the next 3 - 5 years, and that all businesses will move to the next generation Internet in that time," said Gao Hongbing, Deputy Director, the Institute Society Development, Chinese Academy of Social Science. "And I think that IDV is likely to be one of the leaders in that movement."
Wang Junxiu, China Broadband Ministry, former MII Executive Director, paraphrasing one of the most quoted statements by Chinese Chairman Mao, said, "Microsoft is out, and IDV is in."
Interesting development re: Infinium Labs
http://digital-lifestyles.info/display_page.asp?section=cm&id=2130
IDV Global Media-On-Demand: Chinese Seek US Content
Mike Slocombe and Simon Perry
21 April 05
A coalition of government policy makers, technology and broadband companies from China have rocked up to the NAB2005 Media Show in Las Vegas.
They're in town to invite opportunity-seeking US companies to supply programming and interactive content to the Chinese coalition-backed IDV Global Media On-Demand platform, expected to launch in China early next year.
Developed by California-based IDV, the platform was a top-secret project until premiered at the China Media-on-Demand Coalition press conference last week in Beijing, and reflects China's eagerness to create new technologies for the Internet and telecom.
IDV-Global Media - headed by ex-Microsoft's Xbox game console designer, Kevin Bachus - expects the new technology to allow Chinese media companies to securely distribute programs worldwide, direct from publisher to consumer.
Bachus rose to media attention when he left Microsoft to start a rival games console business, Infinium Labs. Their product, the Phantom Game Service, downloaded game content directly over an Internet connection. Digital-Lifestyles has been covering the Phantom since the start of 2004, from its first demo, through the announcement of its launch, to them receiving a $50 million credit investment.
Some of the press had speculate that Bachus had left Infinium. At the start of this week he issued a statement denying that he had left Infinium for IDV Global Media.
Duncan Clark, managing director of the Beijing-based consulting firm BDA China Ltd., warned that IDV-Global Media will need support from a range of participants, including telecoms, media and electronics companies (and the government agencies that regulate them) for the project to work.
"What this initiative claims to attain, aligning the interests of many different players in the value chain, is something that has eluded many a media mogul outside China," Clark sagely added.
IDV GMOD's platform is an end-to-end solution that includes a second generation PC with a 3D "platform-on-platform" architecture developed by IDV - the first system to receive certification from China as the standard for second generation PCs.
Content will be delivered to consumers by digital feeds from global sources, including a next generation Internet, based on the IPv6 technology, with revenue sharing arrangements for partners.
This system will supply sports events, movies, TV shows, next gen games and other interactive entertainment direct to private residences or hotel rooms worldwide, with the same interface, in High Definition (HD) quality video.
The wonderfully named Dr Fan Yeqiang, deputy director of the China Institute of Policy Studies (CIPS), said in a statement, "Now US media publishers and distributors have a direct platform on which to earn millions of dollars in incremental revenues from their content in the China market. We are offering a safe, certified delivery system never available to US media companies before."
Interesting talk tomorrow by SKS at Department of Defense (DoD)
Identity Protection and Management Conference
http://www.iaevents.com/PKE05/pdf/PKE05_agenda.pdf
Wednesday April 20, 2005
Trusted Computing in an Identity Protection and Management Domain; includes update on U. S. M. A. Secure Content Dissemination.
Steven Sprague, Wave Systems
2005: The Year of Internal Security
http://www.technewsworld.com/story/42227.html
For too long now we've seen security threats have a negative impact on internal networks, and as a result, a harmful effect on employee and company productivity. And for far too long, enterprises of all sizes have neglected to focus enough resources and energy on securing these valuable internal network resources.
In 2004, a quiet revolution began. And this year, the information technology industry will see this phenomenon further evolve as organizations begin to focus on securing their internal networks with the same vigor they have applied at the perimeter.
Focused Effort
Internal security refers to a focused effort to secure resources on internal networks, or LANs. These resources can include applications, data, servers, and endpoint devices. Meta Group has observed that "only 10-20 percent of organizations with relatively mature security programs have managed to address internal security to a meaningful extent."
Internal security attacks can happen either maliciously or inadvertently. But regardless of what prompts an internal security breach, one thing is for certain: The impact of internal security issues causes negative results on an organization from both a technical and business perspective.
Why is internal security finally becoming a priority? First, there are business drivers prompting more focus on internal security. Around the globe, companies are being forced to comply with regulations that ensure the privacy of customer data and the security of intellectual property that resides on internal networks. These regulations drive an increased need for internal security.
Second, there is increased awareness about internal hacking. Organizations can no longer take a "don't look, don't tell" approach. Instead, many are now required to provide proof that they are continuously looking for internal hackers. How large has the internal hacking threat become? The CSI/FBI Computer Crime and Security Survey showed that 66 percent of organizations suffered an insider attack in 2003.
Financial Impact
At the same time, the financial impact of worm and other new types of destructive threats has increased and become more visible in the industry. Having the ability to protect against and contain worms, is perhaps the No. 1 problem driving the investment in internal security solutions. It is estimated that the Slammer worm alone resulted in more than $1billion in damage, for example.
Furthermore, as security vulnerabilities in software have become more proactively communicated by Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT) and other sources, the timeline from vulnerability to exploit is shrinking. The time to patch the announced security holes remains ever-present -- and just takes too long. So companies are searching for ways to protect their LAN resources during this period of susceptibility - until the holes can be filled with properly patched software.
Lastly, IT organizations have realized that endpoint devices -- whether a personal computer, PDA or other device, must be as secure on LANs as they are when connecting from outside the perimeter (such as on a VPN connection.) Once these endpoints are secure internally as well as externally, they will no longer inadvertently introduce malicious code and other security threats.
How Enterprises Will Begin To Focus
Companies of all sizes are beginning to shift their attention to the topic of internal security. They are starting to initiate change in how they protect resources on the LAN, and in turn, protect their employees' productivity. Once an organization is convinced they should invest time, money and resource on internal security their first step focuses on adding an extra layer of defense within their networks, including:
-Securing endpoints
-Implementing an additional layer of protection specifically for worm defense
-Enforcement of proper use through well articulated security policy
-Quarantine capabilities for isolating infected devices
-Segmenting LANs for threat containment
-Remediation assistance
The Revolution Has Begun
2005 is the year of internal security. A combination of business and technology drivers are triggering this revolution, including worm outbreaks, privacy regulations, reduced windows of time to react and a multitude of new types of threats. There are simple steps organizations can take to get started on protecting their internal network resources.
For the organizations who make these moves, in 2005 they will reap the benefits of having more secure and stable LANs, and in turn, a more productive workforce.
Guv - This is the first tangible sign (that I know of)of some link between ETS and Gateway offerings. Version 3.3 of ETS is the one offered by Intel with the respective chipsets so obviously Gateway put in an order with Intel for these chipsets no doubt for some specific clients (government, enterprise). For reasons unknown to us, this has been done with some stealth (as much that is going on right now). Those contracts are probably not a huge deal just yet (though every bit counts right now), but it does bode well for the future - especially given the fact that Wave seems to be turning up more and more with key players and thus establishing an impressive foundation for current and more importantly future deployment and revenues. I also believe that the current stealth is warranted since there is a huge market looming for the not so distant future and right now it is all about positioning for this opportunity. Regards, Foam
Dabears - I like what I see.Nice find!eom.
Hadn't noticed ETS&KTM available through DigitalRiver
http://www.digitalriver.com/dr/v2/ec_MAIN.Entry10?SP=10023&PN=1&xid=8282&V1=634178&C...
http://www.digitalriver.com/dr/v2/ec_MAIN.Entry10?SP=10023&PN=1&xid=8282&V1=634179&C...
Awk - Thanks, then he has an even clearer grasp of how MSFT intends to go about Trusted/Trustworthy Computing, TPMs etc
He clearly likes what he sees. Regards
Mark - I'm not sure what verification you're refering to, but I do BELIEVE that we will get some clarity at Winhec on how Longhorn will mesh with TPM 1.2. Enderle is a consultant for the TCG and I think he is aware of the roadmap (how hardware security will be integrated) and approves of it, thus his positive comments on improved security in Longhorn. Regards, Foam
Interesting bit on Longhorn in the NYTimes
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/04/10/business/yourmoney/10digi.html?
TEN years ago, Microsoft unveiled Windows 95 in a way that suggested that the product's arrival was no less momentous than when humans stood upright for the first time. The company spent about $200 million introducing the operating system. That paid for festivities on the Microsoft campus (with Jay Leno as M.C.), rights to use the Rolling Stones song "Start Me Up" in a global advertising campaign and permission to bathe the Empire State Building at night with the Windows logo. It also loaded The Times of London with Windows 95 advertising that day, making the newspaper a one-day freebie, a first in its 307 years.
What was remarkable about the Windows 95 introduction was the acquiescence of customers, who participated so willingly in the spectacle. Microsoft arranged for retail outlets to open at midnight on the day the system would first be available, a stunt that proved as irresistible as klieg lights at a Hollywood premiere. One chain counted some 50,000 people lined up at its stores across the country.
These people were chasing an operating system, of all things - plumbing that serves a necessary function, to be sure, but of no more intrinsic interest than the pipes that snake below the floorboards of a house. In 1995, however, Microsoft managed to make the mundane appear life-changing. The Seattle Times quoted one happy midnight customer, standing with his wife, who predicted that "this is going to enhance our marriage."
Windows XP, introduced in 2001, could not match Windows 95's remarkable debut. We can hope that XP's successor, which has the code name "Longhorn" and is scheduled for release next year, will appear quietly, bringing us closer to the day when users need know no more about a PC's operating system than they do of the embedded software in a cellphone.
Longhorn's gestation has already extended much longer than originally planned. Rumors of its existence surfaced in 2001, when the system was said to have been chosen as a quick "intermediate" update of XP. Time passed, and the news media were permitted a sneak preview. But completion of even this, the interim release, came no closer. Determined to get it out the door by 2006, Microsoft decided in 2004 to remove a new file system for organizing data on the hard drive, what the company had earlier promoted as the heart of the new system. If and when this feature ever appears, it is unlikely to enhance anyone's marriage.
Regretful that it had announced an important feature that it subsequently had to remove, the company decided to remain quiet about other aspects for as long as possible. Microsoft has given software developers beta versions of two new components, for graphics and Web services, but these will be available for Windows XP customers, too. The company has yet to say what exactly will be a Longhorn-only improvement.
Microsoft's reticence cannot last much longer. In two weeks, it will be host for a conference for hardware vendors, setting down the minimum specifications that must be met in order to run Longhorn. You may be eager to know whether that PC on your desk will meet the specs. If your PC does not, it's unlikely that you will replace it just to be able to run the latest version of Windows. Michael Cherry, a senior analyst at Directions on Microsoft, a consulting firm based in Kirkland, Wash., observes that many PC users now treat their computers like TV sets.
"Unless the TV doesn't turn on," he says, "they won't replace them."
Mr. Cherry expressed skepticism about the appeal of enhanced graphics for him and others who spend most of their time using a word processor, an e-mail program and a browser. "How are 3-D graphics really going to change my life?" he wondered.
Another analyst, Rob Enderle, president of the Enderle Group, greets the system with more enthusiasm, predicting that Longhorn will provide "vast improvements in security." We can cheer this happy prospect, but at the same time we must ignore the snide laughs of Macintosh users who have yet to encounter a virus. No matter how solid and secure Longhorn's code appears, Microsoft will need a lot of independent voices providing verification and reassurance.
The professional caretakers of corporate PC's seem rather leery of Microsoft's promises these days, spurning the most recent package of security improvements and bug fixes offered for Windows XP. Last week, AssetMetrix Research Labs, a research firm based in Ottawa, released the results of a survey of 251 North American companies, measuring the adoption of Windows XP. Only 7 percent of companies had actively embraced the latest improvements, Service Pack 2, released six months ago. The improvements, it turns out, introduce software-compatibility problems. These can be overcome with tinkering but not without aggravation and additional cost for fixes that should not have been necessary in the first place.
Compatibility issues will loom larger in the future. Longhorn is unlikely to co-exist peaceably with existing software that sits atop the operating system. Mr. Enderle said that gaining enhanced security necessitates making a break with the complementary software of the past, which means "compatibility is going to suffer."
Windows XP may prove to be a tenacious paterfamilias, unwilling to move aside for the next generation. Security holes notwithstanding, it is the most stable version of Windows to date. That very stability will make it difficult for the company to market Longhorn as a release more important than XP itself, a prediction that Bill Gates, Microsoft's chairman, made in 2003.
Predictions do not fare well when the computing world moves faster than the lumbering mass of Microsoft's Windows division. Linux constitutes an alternative model, employing fleet feet and frequent releases.
Mark Lucovsky, a software engineer, recently described in his blog the process of writing code for a project like Longhorn and the long wait before it reaches a customer's PC. First, a bug fix or added feature is deposited in a source code control system, where it may sit for years. Eventually it is transferred into a product release and pressed into CD's. Months pass, even in the final stage, from release to manufacturing to arrival at the customer's receiving department. Slow.
By contrast, engineers who work on improvements for a newer form of operating system, the software that powers Web sites, can roll out work almost instantaneously. Mr. Lucovsky recounts how a friend at Amazon discovered a performance issue, found a fix, tested it and had it in place, all in a day. "Not a single customer had to download a bag of bits, answer any silly questions, prove that they are not software thieves, reboot their computers, etc.," he wrote. "The software was shipped to them, and they didn't have to lift a finger."
MR. LUCOVSKY'S remarks are of interest because he knows a thing or two about developing operating systems. He was a senior architect of Windows NT, was the chief keeper of the keys for the source code and was named by Microsoft in 2000 as one among its inaugural batch of distinguished engineers. Recently, after 16 years at Microsoft, however, he said he decided that he had been wrong in thinking that Microsoft knew best "how to ship software."
It was other companies, the ones who understood the potential of the Internet and software-as-a-service, that were best able to deliver benefits to customers "efficiently and quickly," he said. He resigned from Microsoft and has joined one of those other companies: Google.
Helpful - A bit more info on CTST and STMicro
I think it was Ramsey who received an email from STMicro about CTST to the effect that the TPM could work with the ST22T064 chip for video streaming. No further information was offered, so it's hard to say what was being referred to.
http://www.st.com/stonline/company/expo/ctst/index.htm
Show CardTechSecureTech 2005
Location Mandalay Bay Convention Center, Las Vegas Nevada
Hall/Booth
Date April 12-14, 2005
Opening Hours Tues. April 12: 11:00am - 6:00pm, Wed. April 13: 11:00am - 5:00pm, Thur. April 14: 11:00am - 2:00pm
Theme Your Partner for Secure Semiconductor Solutions
ST Focus Secure Semiconductor Solutions
Show Description "This year’s CTST conference offers an exciting new look at two “core competencies” that have always
been at the foundation of the event: Security and Transactions. CTST has always been about ID tokensthat are usually taken to mean smart cards, but actually include so much more. Here, we’ve taken the high-level technological expertise that forms the conference and we’ve re-focused, packaged and labeled it with you, the end-user of these technologies, in mind."
Products Presented The result is CardTech/SecurTech 2005.
"E-government, Passport, Transport, Video streaming demo with ST22T064,
Windows Log On, Biometric smartcard "
Contact Kim Zarrella, kimberly.zarrella@st.com
-(Further info here on the ST22T064)
http://www.st.com/stonline/products/families/smartcard/sc_app_tv_cp_ics.htm
ST, a world leader in smartcard ICs for conditional access, is capitalizing on its vast IP portfolio and security expertise to address other segments, such as IT security : USB Tokens and Cards with USB Smartcard IC's, for which the ST19XT34 is a low speed and the ST22T064 a full speed version
Key benefits of STMicroelectronics' USB ICs are their on-chip clock recovery circuit, making them the most integrated solutions on the market (No discrete components necessary) Trusted Platform Modules (TPM for PC motherboards) for which the ST19WP18 is ideal chip with an (Low Pin Count) LPC bus interface and advanced cryptographic solutions.
Digital Rights Management (DRM) where the ST22T064 is the ideal candidate to allow "on the fly " video stream decryption.
Weby - Thanks. Maybe we'll get some corroboration re: Sinosun this coming week. Regards, Foam
Wildman - Yes and I'm also interested to see what the new feature of the Lenovo TPM chip is. Are they still going with the National/Windbond TPM and what new element has been added to it? Regards, Foam
News on Sinosun and Lenovo TPMs next week? Some tracks from Beijing IDF:
(April 14)
14:05-14:45
Hardware-based trusted computing - the trend of the IT business
1. About TCG
2. About Sinosun
3. Sinosun TPM
4. Sinosun trusted computing solutions
17:35-18:25
A demonstration of emerging EFI capabilities
• EFI and trusted environment
• EFI and Trusted Platform Module
• Integrate TPMs to a platform
(April 15)
14:05-14:45
Security Solution Based on TPM chip
New feature of Lenovo TPM chip
How to use Lenovo TPM chip on PC Motherboard
How to develop application based on Lenovo TPM SDK
Government cryptogram policy
Government standard of trusted computing
AVSR just topped 3 dollars.
It was cautiously recommended by G. Gilder just over a year ago along with Wave (he actually claimed Wave was more likely to succeed), FWIW. It's share price was lower than Wave's just some months ago. Don't really know what's moving the stock price. Hope he picked the right stock, seeing that he just bought some shares of Wave. Regards
Interesting developments around IPTV. Seagate and STMicro working with Scientific Atlantic for some DVR/STB product. I wonder if this will have some Trusted Computing component somewhere down the line.
http://news.com.com/Seagate+queues+up+400GB+DVR/2100-1041_3-5653830.html
For storage-hungry consumers, the company is showing an add-on 400GB external hard drive, which is being tested with cable operators. The drive at the show attaches to the Scientific Atlanta Explorer 8300 Series DVR. Seagate is also demonstrating a prototype 2.5-inch 120GB hard drive that can be added internally to set-top boxes.
On Monday, the company unveiled its DriveTrust software, designed to ease concerns about digital-rights management. DriveTrust allows cable operators and DVR makers to lock external storage products to a specific device, such as a set-top box. The software can be customized to work with a cable company's network.
http://www.st.com/stonline/press/news/year2005/t1478h.htm
STMicroelectronics (NYSE: STM), the leading supplier of silicon chips for set-top boxes, and Scientific-Atlanta, Inc. a leader in DVR and high-definition set-tops, announced today that they are in full production with a jointly developed highly integrated cable set-top box chip. This new chip combines advanced set-top box and silicon technologies from both ST and Scientific-Atlanta to achieve a benchmark in system on silicon integration.
Some opposition to TCG
http://news.com.com/Battle+brews+over+unlocking+PC+secrets/2100-1016_3-5654272.html?tag=nefd.lede
"We need a free BIOS, because if we don't control the BIOS we don't control our computers," said Richard Stallman, president of the Free Software Foundation, a Boston-based organization dedicated to promoting the use, modification and redistribution of computer programs. "It puts me in an ethically compromised position to have a nonfree program in my machine."
The free-BIOS initiative comes at a time when the BIOS is undergoing the first major change in its history--a transition from software based on machine code to a new framework dubbed the Extensible Firmware Interface, or EFI. At the same time, efforts to secure PCs through hardware-based defenses are leading critics like Stallman to warn of a pending loss of consumer control over their devices.
Awk - Fascinating read. Interesting to see that to the authors TPMs are some new-fangled solution about which they can only give some preliminary description. But they do take the time to include some description and that means that it is finally penetrating into the real world of corporate cost assessments. Of course, the software to which they refer is Wave's.
http://www.ncipher.com/investors/documents/AmericasGrowthCapitalJan2005.pdf
Last year, Intel launched a new motherboard with a Trusted Platform Module(TPM), which is an electronic safe that can store encryption keys to sensitive documents and
personal information. The TPM is an addition to the standard motherboard, and consists of a chip and keys that encrypt and decrypt files on the fly. In order to access the documents,
client-side software prompts the user for a password. Once authenticated, the user can send files or store them onto the computer's hard drive. Files cannot be accessed while in an encrypted state. In order to ensure that sensitive data cannot be accessed after it is saved, the client software uses a wiping tool to ensure all traces of the file are deleted from the hard drive and data is not sent to the recycle bin.
Eamon -Excellent Matrix! Here's another notebook that came out recently in Japan. Regards
http://www.mitsubishielectric.co.jp/news-data/2005/pdf/0303.pdf
Rachel - I agree wholeheartedly and as you say, good or bad, I'm very curious to see the outcome of this whole thing. Though I can't seem to shake off the impression that we'll, AT LEAST, manage to carve out a little piece of the good pie. Here's hoping that things do go that way. Best regards, Foam
Re:Longhorn
http://www.windowsitpro.com/windowspaulthurrott/Article/ArticleID/45792/windowspaulthurrott_45792.ht...
Microsoft Talks Longhorn Networking
Microsoft hosted a public chat session this week to discuss some of the networking features the company plans to add to Longhorn, the next-generation OS that will ship in mid-2006. According to Microsoft representatives who attended the chat, Longhorn will include support for 802.11i wireless security technology, a new networking stack that supports both the IPv6 and IPv4 networking standards, simpler peer-to-peer file-sharing features, better audio- and video-streaming support, and integrated real-time communication features. Frankly, the company didn't reveal many specifics nor did it really expand on the available information we have about Longhorn. But as we race toward the late April release of the first Longhorn beta-class build, it's nice to see Microsoft finally opening up about Longhorn and offering some information, however vague. Expect the next few months to include a flurry of Longhorn disclosures.
Wave now listed as exhibitor at WinHec 2005
http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/winhec/exhibitors05.mspx
Does seem like April will be an interesting month. With Identiphi at FOSE, some discussion of the Defense Cross-Credentialing System at SecurTech (Northrop Grumann presiding)and the Department of Defense (DoD)Identity Protection and Management Conference all in April, will we finally get some visibility into Wave's involvement in the govt. sector? Some deployment of Wave's server products (as per Awk and Doma's posts)? What about any connection to Microsoft from Winhec? And Dutton?...
Will be interesting to follow the thread through April. Regards, Foam