Microsoft Gives Details on Windows Release (featuring new "security" chip)

Associated Press | Elizabeth M. Gillespie

[supercat]

If Microsoft develops it, the security chip will be MUCH EASIER to break into than a hard drive. MS couldn't make a secure system to save their lives.

If virus writers can get their hands on the 'master keys', it would become possible for them to write viruses and other malware which would be cryptographically undetectable. Double-plus ungood.

[RegulatorCountry]

You're right... this is not the "Longhorn" operating system they're touting, it's hardware, and the new OS is dependent upon that hardware for security. Hardware that is not present in current generation and older pee-sees. Guess it's time for all you Windoze bots to jump on the upgrade treadmill, again. Oh, wait. 2006 "release?" That mean's you've got a couple more years to go yet, LOL. Bet the legacy apps will be "broken" too. More forced upgrades.

[savedbygrace]

Under the FWIW column, the Apple booth at last week's National Association of Broadcasters Convention was huge, jammed full of attendees, and buzzing hard all three show days I was there. The Microsoft booth was quiet for the most part.

Apple is looking good, even with its 5% market share. Longhorn could deliver another 5% market share to Apple, if not more.

[Pukin Dog]

I'm with you. My next computer will be a Mac. Learning to use Windows has been worse than learning to fly. I want a computer that does not cause me drama when I turn it on. I never know until it has finished booting whether or not it is really going to work.

[HAL9000]

Microsoft's "security chip" reminds me of the Clinton administration's CLIPPER chip.

[D-fendr]

nothing short of an Act of Congress can get me to upgrade if I really don't want to.

what if an app, game, or content won't work unless you do?

[Windcatcher]

Don't underestimate my ability to live without :P

[Cicero]

I'm running XP on three computers, 2000 on another, Win98SE on another, and Win3.11 on an old computer up in the attic. The latter still has a lot of old games on it, but I must admit it's about time to throw it out.

[steve-b]

Currently, such encryption locks are stored as data on a hard drive. It is, however, much more difficult to crack a chip.

Who writes this stuff? The difference between hardware and software implementation is purely one of performance (a dedicated chip can generally encrypt/decrypt faster). The security of the end result depends entirely on the soundness of the algorithm and the security of the key.