Microsoft still tinkering with secure-computing design

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This is the scary part

Critics maintain that the fourth feature of Microsoft's trusted
PC plan, remote attestation, could lead to major privacy issues.
A paper the Electronic Frontier Foundation released last October
applauded three features of Microsoft's scheme but criticized
remote attestation as a threat that could lock people into certain
applications, force unwanted software changes on them and
prevent reverse engineering.

What to say it isn't used to charge end users money for say
ripping a CD to the hard drive? What's to say it's not used to
delete MP3s, in an effort to push the WMA format? What to say
it's not used to force upgrades? Allowing anyone remote access
and primary rights to your computer, is just plain stupid. I'm not
singling out Microsoft on this one. I would not grant any
software vendor, first right of access to my computer.

Just for an example, we'll use Adobe Software. Say "remote
attestation" becomes the norm. Adobe releases a new version of
Photoshop, but sales are lagging. They use this feature to
disable parts of previous versions of Photoshop to push
upgrades.

Another example of this could be, the RIAA. Say the john Q
Public, buys a Metallica CD. John then decides to put the music
on his computer. The RIA uses "remote attestation" and sends
John a letter, telling him he has to pay for a new license for the
music on his hard drive. If he fails to do so they will delete it,
from his hard drive.

I for one don't download illegal songs from the internet. But I
don't want a record label telling me I can't put music (that I
bought the CD for) on my computer.

Another scary thing is the part about Microsoft's scheme for
remote attestation. It could be used to could lock people into
certain applications and force unwanted software changes on
them. I should not be forced to upgrade (or buy) an application,
because someone else does. I should also not be forced by
anyone to use a certain application. Be it for web browsing,
music and video playback, etc. If you want me to use your
product, give me a compelling reason to do so. Welding it to the
OS, or locking out competition, is not a compelling reason to
use your product.

Posted by: Rick_K   Posted on: 05/06/04 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use

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