So what back-door functionality will be part of these new security and
software features?
At 11:16 AM 12/21/98 -0500, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
>
>> http://www.techweb.com/wire/story/TWB19981214S0008
>>
>> Intel's Security Plans Worry PC Builders
>>
>> (12/14/98, 3:49 p.m. ET)
>> By Rick Boyd-Merritt and Mark Carroll, EE Times
>>
>> Intel will add new security and software functions to future
>> chip sets in
>> a move that will boost the profile of its upcoming Katmai
>> processors as
>> key silicon for multimedia and e-commerce. But the plan is raising
>> concerns among software, semiconductor and systems companies
>> that fear the
>> processor giant could wind up encroaching on their markets,
>> extending its
>> own reach deeper into the PC architecture.
>...
>> Intel would not comment on its unannounced products. However, the key
>> features of the chip are beginning to come to light based on
>> reports from
>> multiple sources. The firmware hub is "basically a flash chip
>> with locks
>> on its read and write capabilities that can be opened using a
>> cryptographic protocol," said another source briefed by Intel.
>>
>> Hardware security functions include a cryptographic engine to
>> authenticate
>> digital certificates Intel or a third party could load in.
>> The chip could
>> hold multiple certificates, each with permission to grant specific
>> features, such as to permit an operating system or an MPEG
>> player to run.
>> They would also ensure a software program licensed to one user was not
>> copied and run on another machine, a common practice. In addition, the
>> certificates will act like unique serial numbers, identifying a given
>> machine in any Internet or corporate network transaction,
>> sources said.
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