Wave Systems Corp. (fka WAVXQ)

[awk]

Dabears4: Is Intel/AMD the missing link...

Thanks for posting your thoughts...

Indeed what is Samsung doing?

1. We know now, that for the entire ARM ecosystem, nobody needs to build a TPM. As evidenced in this blog post by Wave's Jerry Burke the MTM is a software instantiation within the TEE as specified by Global Platform.


2. Discrete TPMs for X86 are already being built by many manufacturers. So, no need for Samsung to get involved here.


3. If we assume that there will be an overlaying single and interoperable Trust Infrastructure Network connecting all devices, including Intel/AMD PCs, then one has to ask oneself how X86 systems fit into this.

This is what Wave's Lark Allen said in his recent blog post:

"… The security credentials embedded in your mobile phone will provide single-password access to your employer’s network and Cloud services, or let you complete transactions on your PC or tablet that you started on your phone.".


4. There is no evidence whatsoever publicly available that the X86 landscape today would support interfacing to such an overarching Trust Assurance Network. Of course, there is technically the possibility that they could virtualize such a "Transaction Engine" within TXT. But I don't know whether this is a good possibility… TXT was never conceptualized in the same way as ARM's "TrustZone" security extension.


5. Now, if you go back to the Wave/Samsung PR it states:

"As businesses worldwide are seeking better security for their critical information and network access, the importance of a fundamental new approach to securing a powerful management infrastructure that ensures only authorized users on known devices are granted access or can execute critical functions has been crucial," said Dojun Rhee, Vice President of System LSI marketing, Device Solutions, Samsung Electronics. "By combining Wave's broad expertise/know-how, and strong OEM and enterprise customer relationships in trusted computing with Samsung's world-leading chip design and manufacturing capabilities, Samsung will provide reliable, competitive trusted computing security chips for our customers."

Combine this with Point 3. above and it appears the distinct possibility that an additional/modified (TPM-TEE) SoC would have to be incorporated into the X86 architecture. A device that would replace the existing discrete TPM on motherboards with an SoC – maybe even pin compatible (The original E2100 was a chip that provided for all the imaginable interfaces and "possibilities", hence the 32 pin count, I believe...)

As you surely remember, the E2100 – at the time - was implemented on the LPC bus. So is the TPM today.

Is there going to be such a thing like an "E2100 Light" built by Samsung?