Comments on: Microsoft's leaner approach to Vista security

Microsoft is talking up Secure Startup in Windows Vista, the sole piece of its original hardware-based security plan to make it into the OS.

[ebrandel]

Where'd all the tech savvy columnists go?

From the article:
---------------------
"Current versions of Windows offer ... start-up security such as Basic Input/Output System, or BIOS passwords"
---------------------

What? BIOS passwords and security have absolutely nothing to do with the OS being used on a system. It is completely a funcion of the hardware used. There is zero interaction between the OS (or any other software) and any form of BIOS security.

[mike ricciuti]

There is interaction between BIOS/Windows...

There is interaction between BIOS security and Windows XP. Take a look at this info Microsoft's Web site:

"Also be aware that BIOS security can supercede Windows XP Professional security by preventing Windows XP Professional from taking control of the computer or other devices."

http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/Windows/XP/all/reskit/en-us/Default.asp?url=/resources/documentation/Windows/XP/all/reskit/en-us/prdc_mcc_wmnc.asp

[ebrandel]

Where'd all the tech savvy columnists go?

From the article:
---------------------
"Current versions of Windows offer ... start-up security such as Basic Input/Output System, or BIOS passwords"
---------------------

What? BIOS passwords and security have absolutely nothing to do with the OS being used on a system. It is completely a funcion of the hardware used. There is zero interaction between the OS (or any other software) and any form of BIOS security.

[mike ricciuti]

There is interaction between BIOS/Windows...

There is interaction between BIOS security and Windows XP. Take a look at this info Microsoft's Web site:

"Also be aware that BIOS security can supercede Windows XP Professional security by preventing Windows XP Professional from taking control of the computer or other devices."

http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/Windows/XP/all/reskit/en-us/Default.asp?url=/resources/documentation/Windows/XP/all/reskit/en-us/prdc_mcc_wmnc.asp

[ebrandel]

Where'd all the tech savvy columnists go?

From the article:
---------------------
"Current versions of Windows offer ... start-up security such as Basic Input/Output System, or BIOS passwords"
---------------------

What? BIOS passwords and security have absolutely nothing to do with the OS being used on a system. It is completely a funcion of the hardware used. There is zero interaction between the OS (or any other software) and any form of BIOS security.

[mike ricciuti]

There is interaction between BIOS/Windows...

There is interaction between BIOS security and Windows XP. Take a look at this info Microsoft's Web site:

"Also be aware that BIOS security can supercede Windows XP Professional security by preventing Windows XP Professional from taking control of the computer or other devices."

http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/Windows/XP/all/reskit/en-us/Default.asp?url=/resources/documentation/Windows/XP/all/reskit/en-us/prdc_mcc_wmnc.asp

[CagedAnimal]

Didn't learn from the PIII

I guess they do not remember the stiff backlash against the Pentium III serial number. Hopefully consumers will react similarly to this.

Sorry, but you don't need a special chip to encrypt a hard drive. It would be nice if they would just cut the crap and admit the real motivation is DRM.

[ddesy]

We can only hope

I'm not so sure that we will see the same backlash against this new technology that we did against the Pentium III serial number. If you look at the current track record of modern, non-technical computer buyers, they don't seem too worried about their privacy.

I seriously doubt that the people who have spyware ridden computers know enough to understand the possible implications of TRM.

[CagedAnimal]

Didn't learn from the PIII

I guess they do not remember the stiff backlash against the Pentium III serial number. Hopefully consumers will react similarly to this.

Sorry, but you don't need a special chip to encrypt a hard drive. It would be nice if they would just cut the crap and admit the real motivation is DRM.

[ddesy]

We can only hope

I'm not so sure that we will see the same backlash against this new technology that we did against the Pentium III serial number. If you look at the current track record of modern, non-technical computer buyers, they don't seem too worried about their privacy.

I seriously doubt that the people who have spyware ridden computers know enough to understand the possible implications of TRM.

[CagedAnimal]

Didn't learn from the PIII

I guess they do not remember the stiff backlash against the Pentium III serial number. Hopefully consumers will react similarly to this.

Sorry, but you don't need a special chip to encrypt a hard drive. It would be nice if they would just cut the crap and admit the real motivation is DRM.

[ddesy]

We can only hope

I'm not so sure that we will see the same backlash against this new technology that we did against the Pentium III serial number. If you look at the current track record of modern, non-technical computer buyers, they don't seem too worried about their privacy.

I seriously doubt that the people who have spyware ridden computers know enough to understand the possible implications of TRM.

[Scott W]

treacherous computing

great, at least Vista isn't forcing this censorship upon us just yet. we all know MS wants TC to block "unauthorised" software on a machine. to MS anything unauthorised is anything they don't want on your machine (ie. linux instead of windows, openOffice instead of MS Office, RealPlayer instead of Windows Media Player etc)

[catchall]

Why are people willfully missing the point?

Regardless of what you want, 'Protected Computing', DRM, and the lot are there for the content provides benefit, not MS. Here is how it works
1. Major players put DRM tech into the computer/OS
2. Content providers (let?s say movie makers) say 'requires on-chip DRM to play'. No chips, no support, doesn't play on that machine.
3. Linux, or any OS that refuses to put the technology into the OS, are left WAY out in the cold.
Same thing goes in business settings. 'These files only usable by these machines. Can't do that in hardware? Don't buy them!'
That will be the end of any desktop OS, regardless of who makes it.

MS, if they even hinted at disallowing OpenOffice/ any rival, would be in court before we were aware of it. The RIAA, Hollywood, those are the folks that are making this happen. Any OS provider not following along is putting a nail in their coffin.

[Scott W]

treacherous computing

great, at least Vista isn't forcing this censorship upon us just yet. we all know MS wants TC to block "unauthorised" software on a machine. to MS anything unauthorised is anything they don't want on your machine (ie. linux instead of windows, openOffice instead of MS Office, RealPlayer instead of Windows Media Player etc)

[catchall]

Why are people willfully missing the point?

Regardless of what you want, 'Protected Computing', DRM, and the lot are there for the content provides benefit, not MS. Here is how it works
1. Major players put DRM tech into the computer/OS
2. Content providers (let?s say movie makers) say 'requires on-chip DRM to play'. No chips, no support, doesn't play on that machine.
3. Linux, or any OS that refuses to put the technology into the OS, are left WAY out in the cold.
Same thing goes in business settings. 'These files only usable by these machines. Can't do that in hardware? Don't buy them!'
That will be the end of any desktop OS, regardless of who makes it.

MS, if they even hinted at disallowing OpenOffice/ any rival, would be in court before we were aware of it. The RIAA, Hollywood, those are the folks that are making this happen. Any OS provider not following along is putting a nail in their coffin.

[Scott W]

treacherous computing

great, at least Vista isn't forcing this censorship upon us just yet. we all know MS wants TC to block "unauthorised" software on a machine. to MS anything unauthorised is anything they don't want on your machine (ie. linux instead of windows, openOffice instead of MS Office, RealPlayer instead of Windows Media Player etc)

[catchall]

Why are people willfully missing the point?

Regardless of what you want, 'Protected Computing', DRM, and the lot are there for the content provides benefit, not MS. Here is how it works
1. Major players put DRM tech into the computer/OS
2. Content providers (let?s say movie makers) say 'requires on-chip DRM to play'. No chips, no support, doesn't play on that machine.
3. Linux, or any OS that refuses to put the technology into the OS, are left WAY out in the cold.
Same thing goes in business settings. 'These files only usable by these machines. Can't do that in hardware? Don't buy them!'
That will be the end of any desktop OS, regardless of who makes it.

MS, if they even hinted at disallowing OpenOffice/ any rival, would be in court before we were aware of it. The RIAA, Hollywood, those are the folks that are making this happen. Any OS provider not following along is putting a nail in their coffin.

[R. U. Sirius]

Beware the Wolf in Sheep's Clothing

Microsoft wants to use a chip to encrypt and protect my data? Wow. I'm so naive I thought that I could use encryption software to do this. ;-) Gee Mr. Gates, thank you for thinking about me. But how come I can't play my .avi files anymore? Or rip my CD's to iTunes? Or rip my DVD's to avi files? Huh? What's this stuff called "DRM" anyway?

Remember the fable: beware of a wolf in sheeps clothing.

[R. U. Sirius]

Beware the Wolf in Sheep's Clothing

Microsoft wants to use a chip to encrypt and protect my data? Wow. I'm so naive I thought that I could use encryption software to do this. ;-) Gee Mr. Gates, thank you for thinking about me. But how come I can't play my .avi files anymore? Or rip my CD's to iTunes? Or rip my DVD's to avi files? Huh? What's this stuff called "DRM" anyway?

Remember the fable: beware of a wolf in sheeps clothing.

[R. U. Sirius]

Beware the Wolf in Sheep's Clothing

Microsoft wants to use a chip to encrypt and protect my data? Wow. I'm so naive I thought that I could use encryption software to do this. ;-) Gee Mr. Gates, thank you for thinking about me. But how come I can't play my .avi files anymore? Or rip my CD's to iTunes? Or rip my DVD's to avi files? Huh? What's this stuff called "DRM" anyway?

Remember the fable: beware of a wolf in sheeps clothing.

[malabrm1]

Awww...big bad Microsoft, is it?

To the pompous and eloquent tech geniuses who have made certain posts to this string, no one is forcing anyone to use Microsoft product. No one is forcing anyone to use the internet to send email and surf the web for that matter - use a carrier pigeon for mail and your local library to do research = no one's ever hacked or spammed these telecomm methods. I am wearying of the Microsoft slams for one specific reason: business is business. And yes, Microsoft wants you to use their products like MediaPlayer and Internet Explorer. So what's the alternative? I'm developing little patience for conspiracies of idiocy. The purpose of business is to make a profit. And to blame MSFT just cause they're the global market killer in their space is as silly as blaming the Stones for corrupting your teenage daughters' minds.

[CharlesRovira]

Except that if you don't like the 'Stones

you aren't forced to listen to 'em.

[Michael Grogan]

And I'm sick of

fools who are willing to give away the whole country to corporate interests in the name of 'business is business'. People are people and I, for one, am tired to death of corporate greed crapping on my entire existance.

[cjohn17]

The Disgruntled Fight Back

No, you are wrong. The purpose of business is to make a quality
product that the consumer can enjoy.

We, the disgruntled, neither think MS products are quality nor
enjoyable. And since MS has an overwhelming presence in the
market place because of their unfair practices, most of us are
forced to use they substandard junk software.

But the day is coming when they will be no more.

[Scott W]

don't use the internet?

wow, you are an idiot...
many of the anti-MS crew do our best to NOT use windows and its offspring. unfortunately, when we go to work/school we find windows on our machines. it wouldn't be so bad if we didn't lose a weeks work when the server (frequently) goes down.

don't use the internet? how else do you propose we obtain linux and get support for it? if you're sick of anti-MS remarks why don't you stop viewing talkback? or better yet, follow your own advice and sign off the internet, switch off your computer and bury your head in the sand. the MS way isn't the only way and we are going to express our disapproval of their monopolistic tactics.

[malabrm1]

Awww...big bad Microsoft, is it?

To the pompous and eloquent tech geniuses who have made certain posts to this string, no one is forcing anyone to use Microsoft product. No one is forcing anyone to use the internet to send email and surf the web for that matter - use a carrier pigeon for mail and your local library to do research = no one's ever hacked or spammed these telecomm methods. I am wearying of the Microsoft slams for one specific reason: business is business. And yes, Microsoft wants you to use their products like MediaPlayer and Internet Explorer. So what's the alternative? I'm developing little patience for conspiracies of idiocy. The purpose of business is to make a profit. And to blame MSFT just cause they're the global market killer in their space is as silly as blaming the Stones for corrupting your teenage daughters' minds.

[CharlesRovira]

Except that if you don't like the 'Stones

you aren't forced to listen to 'em.

[Michael Grogan]

And I'm sick of

fools who are willing to give away the whole country to corporate interests in the name of 'business is business'. People are people and I, for one, am tired to death of corporate greed crapping on my entire existance.

[cjohn17]

The Disgruntled Fight Back

No, you are wrong. The purpose of business is to make a quality
product that the consumer can enjoy.

We, the disgruntled, neither think MS products are quality nor
enjoyable. And since MS has an overwhelming presence in the
market place because of their unfair practices, most of us are
forced to use they substandard junk software.

But the day is coming when they will be no more.

[Scott W]

don't use the internet?

wow, you are an idiot...
many of the anti-MS crew do our best to NOT use windows and its offspring. unfortunately, when we go to work/school we find windows on our machines. it wouldn't be so bad if we didn't lose a weeks work when the server (frequently) goes down.

don't use the internet? how else do you propose we obtain linux and get support for it? if you're sick of anti-MS remarks why don't you stop viewing talkback? or better yet, follow your own advice and sign off the internet, switch off your computer and bury your head in the sand. the MS way isn't the only way and we are going to express our disapproval of their monopolistic tactics.

[malabrm1]

Awww...big bad Microsoft, is it?

To the pompous and eloquent tech geniuses who have made certain posts to this string, no one is forcing anyone to use Microsoft product. No one is forcing anyone to use the internet to send email and surf the web for that matter - use a carrier pigeon for mail and your local library to do research = no one's ever hacked or spammed these telecomm methods. I am wearying of the Microsoft slams for one specific reason: business is business. And yes, Microsoft wants you to use their products like MediaPlayer and Internet Explorer. So what's the alternative? I'm developing little patience for conspiracies of idiocy. The purpose of business is to make a profit. And to blame MSFT just cause they're the global market killer in their space is as silly as blaming the Stones for corrupting your teenage daughters' minds.

[CharlesRovira]

Except that if you don't like the 'Stones

you aren't forced to listen to 'em.

[Michael Grogan]

And I'm sick of

fools who are willing to give away the whole country to corporate interests in the name of 'business is business'. People are people and I, for one, am tired to death of corporate greed crapping on my entire existance.

[cjohn17]

The Disgruntled Fight Back

No, you are wrong. The purpose of business is to make a quality
product that the consumer can enjoy.

We, the disgruntled, neither think MS products are quality nor
enjoyable. And since MS has an overwhelming presence in the
market place because of their unfair practices, most of us are
forced to use they substandard junk software.

But the day is coming when they will be no more.

[Scott W]

don't use the internet?

wow, you are an idiot...
many of the anti-MS crew do our best to NOT use windows and its offspring. unfortunately, when we go to work/school we find windows on our machines. it wouldn't be so bad if we didn't lose a weeks work when the server (frequently) goes down.

don't use the internet? how else do you propose we obtain linux and get support for it? if you're sick of anti-MS remarks why don't you stop viewing talkback? or better yet, follow your own advice and sign off the internet, switch off your computer and bury your head in the sand. the MS way isn't the only way and we are going to express our disapproval of their monopolistic tactics.

[CharlesRovira]

Another opportunity missed

to clean up their act and their software.

And they wonder why people are getting into Linux and why they're
looking at Mac OS X.

[CharlesRovira]

Another opportunity missed

to clean up their act and their software.

And they wonder why people are getting into Linux and why they're
looking at Mac OS X.

[CharlesRovira]

Another opportunity missed

to clean up their act and their software.

And they wonder why people are getting into Linux and why they're
looking at Mac OS X.

[technewsjunkie]

Wasn't TPM bypassed in Apple's Intel Dev machines

n/t

[technewsjunkie]

Wasn't TPM bypassed in Apple's Intel Dev machines

n/t