[ISN] REVIEW: "Trusted Computing Platforms", Siani Pearson

From: InfoSec News (isnat_private)
Date: Mon Dec 30 2002 - 00:23:11 PST

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    Forwarded from: "Rob, grandpa of Ryan, Trevor, Devon & Hannah" <rsladeat_private>
    
    BKTRCMPL.RVW   20020916
    
    "Trusted Computing Platforms", Siani Pearson, 2003, 0-13-009220-7,
    U$49.99/C$77.99
    %E   Siani Pearson
    %C   One Lake St., Upper Saddle River, NJ   07458
    %D   2003
    %G   0-13-009220-7
    %I   Prentice Hall
    %O   U$49.99/C$77.99 +1-201-236-7139 fax: +1-201-236-7131
    %O  http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0130092207/robsladesinterne
    %P   322 p.
    %T   "Trusted Computing Platforms: TCPA Technology in Context"
    
    Part one introduces trusted platform technology, as a kind of public
    key infrastructure implemented in hardware.  (Which begs the question:
    what do you do about key revocation?)  Chapter one, an overview of the
    trusted computing platform concept, is not very clear on basic ideas
    beyond hardware implementation involvement and the notion of
    measurement, or assurance.  There are usage scenarios of applications
    that can be done, or done better, with trusted platforms, in chapter
    two.  Not all of these cases are convincing evidence that trusted
    platforms are better.  The cryptographic underpinnings of trusted
    platforms are examined in chapter three, but it would be clearer if
    the basics of asymmetric cryptography were covered and standard
    cryptographic and certificate authority terms were used.
    
    Part two concerns trust mechanisms in a trusted platform, but is
    basically a list of commands.  Chapter four deals with access control,
    to do with physical presence requirements, ownership, and
    authorization.  Platform identification and endorsement is covered in
    chapter five.  Chapter six discusses integrity recording, reporting,
    and secure boot.  Protected storage of keys is in chapter seven,
    migration and maintenance methods in chapter eight, and other assorted
    functions in chapter nine.
    
    Part three reviews trusted platforms in practice and operation. 
    Chapter ten describes the setup of a new trusted platform, chapter
    eleven deals with what would elsewhere be known as trust
    relationships, and challenging a trusted platform--authentication of a
    server--is in chapter twelve.
    
    Part four presents the benefits of trusted platforms, first to
    organizations and corporations, in chapter thirteen, and then to
    individuals and users, in chapter fourteen.
    
    This book is not clear, either about what TCPA (Trusted Computing
    Platform Alliance) technology is, nor how it can effectively be used. 
    Although the authors occasionally admit that there may be problems
    with the system, there seems to be a kind of background arrogance in
    operation, that assumes everyone will have to use this technology, so
    they might was well learn the commands.
    
    copyright Robert M. Slade, 2002   BKTRCMPL.RVW   20020916
    
    -- 
    ======================
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    Find book info victoria.tc.ca/techrev/ or sun.soci.niu.edu/~rslade/
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