In today's modern society privacy issues have become a major concern. Modern technologies such as computers and the Internet enable people to access more information at rates never before possible. However, many of the tasks for which people use the Internet are considered highly private or confidential matters. For example, the Internet has streamlined tasks such as banking, filing tax returns, conferencing with business associates, and communicating with friends and family.
Coupled with the advantages that accrue from the Internet is an increased susceptibility to malicious eavesdropping and/or cyber-attack. Thus, as the tools with which people conduct their daily affairs advance in complexity, so too must the means by which private or confidential matters are concealed and the communication tools safeguarded from evildoers and/or failures. As such, industry leaders have organized a Trusted Computing Group (“TCG”) to address these concerns.
TCG is a an industry standards body, including computer manufacturers, device manufacturers, and software vendors who have a stake in promoting the security of computing platforms and devices (see, https://www.trustedcomputinggroup.com). One goal of TCG is to promote a security chip called the trusted platform module (“TPM”). The TPM is defined by specifications published by the TCG, such as the TCG Main Specification, Version 1.1b, Feb. 22, 2002. The TPM is an isolated silicon device built into the motherboard of a personal computer (“PC”), but separate from the central processing unit (“CPU”), for establishing trust and trust metrics in a Trusted Computing Environment. “The TCG architecture and the TPM enable platform level authentication, attestation, and the generation and storage of cryptographic keys. The TPM can also perform certain operations on these keys such as signing and hashing within its protected locations. The TPM specifications are designed to enable this increased level of trust and security while maintaining privacy, user choice and control.” TCG, Corp., An Overview Of The TPM And The TCG's Trusted Platform Architecture, Version 0.99D, (May 5, 2003).
Software vendors, such as Microsoft, have begun developing software platforms that will take advantage of the security features provided by a TPM silicon device. For example, a future version of Windows called Longhorn is expected to provide numerous security functions, including encryption, privacy safeguards, and digital rights management with use of the TPM silicon device.
However, widespread acceptance and implementation of the TCG architecture and the TPM is still uncertain. Furthermore, integration of the TCG architecture with network servers, where it is crucial to provide reliable, available, and serviceable functionality, has proven to be difficult. For example, some of the functionality defined by TCG architecture has been found to conflict with current techniques for “hot plugging” network servers.