Intel quietly embeds DRM in it's 945 chips firmware

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

Begin forwarded message:

From: David Wagner <daw () cs berkeley edu>
Date: May 30, 2005 3:58:52 PM EDT
To: dave () farber net
Subject: [IP] Intel quietly embeds DRM in it's 945 chips firmware


Intel is refusing to say how their DRM scheme will work?  This is a
remarkably ignorant stance, one which could get them in trouble.

The article says:
  ``[Intel's Australian technical manager] Tucker ducked questions
  regarding technical details of how embedded DRM would work saying it
  was not in the interests of his company to spell out how the  
technology
  in the interests of security.''
    http://www.pcworld.com/news/article/0,aid,121027,00.asp

So, which was it?  "Not in the interests of his company", or not "in
the interests of security"?  Either way, it is a bad sign.

If Intel is refusing to disclose how their DRM works because that
would not be "in the interests of [the] company", that's troubling.
That's going to leave the impression of a company which has embedded
a Trojan horse feature that they know will be unpopular among many of
their customers, a feature that is being hushed up by marketing folks to
avoid criticism.  If so, Intel had better to expect continued calls to
"come clean" on this one.

Alternatively, if Intel's representative is refusing to disclose how
their DRM works "in the interests of security", that reflects serious
ignorance of the field of computer security.  Anyone with experience
in this area knows that 'security through obscurity' rarely works.
If Intel's engineers really believe in some kind of 'security through
obscurity' hocus-pocus, then they haven't studied history, and I  
wouldn't
hold out too much hope for their technology to remain secure.

I would have thought Intel would know better, given their past  
experience
with the Intel ID.  It's a shame to see the subject of "trusted  
computing"
be approached this with, because I believe that the technology might
find some takers if only it were approached with sufficient openness.
I hope Intel will take the opportunity to clarify their position in the
near future.





EEkid () aol com writes:

> Intel quietly embeds DRM in it's 945 chips firmware
> http://www.cdfreaks.com/news/11878
>
> [...] Intel is now embedding digital rights management in the new
> dual-core processor Pentium D and the 945 chipset [...]
>
> However, Tucker ducked questions regarding technical details of how
> embedded DRM would work saying it was not in the interests of his
> company to spell out how the technology in the interests of  
> security. [...]


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