This page permanently redirects to gemini://gemini.techrights.org/2009/04/03/linux-tivoization/.

● 04.03.09

●● Linux is Getting ‘Built-in’ Tivoization Equivalent

Posted in GNU/Linux, IBM, Kernel, Tivoization, Videos at 5:44 am by Dr. Roy Schestowitz

Could this have played a role in Linus’ decision regarding GPLv3?

GPLv3 launch

Summary: TPM in Linux raises important questions about Freedom

A COUPLE of years ago Linus Torvalds wrote “I think Tivoization is good,” which led to lengthy discussions.

Yesterday in the IRC channel a fascinating tidbit resurfaced as IBM’s Trusted Computing ambitions for Linux reared their ugly head again. The idea of embedding ‘trusted’ computing in Linux (it is the very opposite of trust) probably involved work from IBM, at least based on some prior reports and the Linux Weather Forecast, which has the following for Linux 2.6.30.

=> ↺ a fascinating tidbit resurfaced | ↺ Linux Weather Forecast

Support for integrity management in the kernel has been merged. This code makes use of the trusted platform module (TPM) built into many systems to ensure that the system’s files (including its executable software) have not been corrupted, maliciously or otherwise.

This can be misused to achieve the very opposite, where “corrupted” means benignly hacked. An older article about this seems innocent enough, but questions may arise, such as: could Linus have known something about TPM when rejecting GPLv3?

=> ↺ article about this

“What would this mean to Linux as a Free underlying platform?”“It was one of the main reasons for the rejection in the Linux kernel mailing list,” writes oiaohm. If binaries are changed (or their ‘integrity’ not authenticated), then programs won’t run.

“Problem is, there are devices where TiVo style security is needed,” claims oiaohm, “Like you don’t want people tampering with electronic voting systems.

“As I said, there is good and bad to it. Good for very particular uses. You really do want to be able to inspect the source code of a electronic voting machine to make sure it is not stuffed up. You also don’t want people tampering with it. If you look around, you can find other valid uses of the tech.”

What would this mean to Linux as a Free underlying platform? The GNU/Linux operating system could suffer from this. “Problem is, I would bet almost all the money I have that it will be abused to harm users,” concludes oiaohm. █

Video on Trusted Computing:

=> ↺

[Embedment notice: your Web browser does not supportthe tag. Firefox 3.5 supports it.]

=> ↺ Firefox 3.5

Share in other sites/networks: These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages.

Permalink  Send this to a friend

=> Permalink | ↺ Send this to a friend

=> Techrights

➮ Sharing is caring. Content is available under CC-BY-SA.