Weby,
Slight correction on TTT: Countryboy's (thanks Countryboy!) interesting find about Wave's entry into the mortgage lending business revealed a security technique that is being used by Wave that is not at all dependent on TPM's. From Countryboy's find: Step 3 – Create and install your digital certificate
After installing the plug-in, you’re prompted to get your digital certificate. There is a small, one-time charge for the certificate, so you will need a credit card to process the application.
1. Enter your credit card information into the proper fields and click Next.
2. Now, click the link to access the Wave Systems Smart Identity page. Read and accept the license agreement, then complete the application form and click Continue.
3. The Wave service accesses your credit history and presents you with a few questions to answer based on the information they contain. Providing the correct answer to these random questions ensures that your are, indeed, the person you claim to be in your application. Answer the questions posed and click Submit.
* Note: While this process does access your credit report to help verify your identity, it in no way affects the report or your credit rating.
4. Once confirmed, the site will begin retrieving the new digital certificate. You’re likely to receive some warnings about this process from the Windows operating system. Acknowledge these warnings to continue. When prompted, click the link to install the certificate on your system. When completed, close the installation window and return to the installation screen.
5. Click the Finish button to complete the configuration process, then click Next to move on to the final step.
Of course, this form of software security will eventually be hardened with the use of TPM's as they are deployed. In the meantime, it allows Wave to participate in the security process for a significant group of financial businesses that don't currently have (but will in the not-too-distant future) TPM-equipped computers. I think that this may be part of what SKS referred to a few CC's ago when he mentioned, in regard to Longhorn, that current Windows OS's support much of the security process.
Personally I was very happy to see the digital certificate for $15 as a way for Wave to earn revenue in this space now and not have to wait for TPM deployment. I haven't figured out whether or not Wave intends to actually make money as a mortgage broker/lender but I suspect it is merely a way to showcase the technology, similar to Wavecharity of yesteryear. I have an email in to the Tucson office with that question and if I get a response I'll share.
Svenm
AI
