[KLUG Members] DRM in every Samsung machine

[Adam Williams]

> > The real answer to securing hard drives on laptops is a BIOS that
> > encrypts the hard drive on the fly, so nothing can read it without
> > decrypting it.  Don't some laptops have this option already?
> I know IBM has been working in that direction;  I don't know if they
> did it in the BIOS or not.

I think the answer is yes,  but maybe not in laptops.  The ability to
"seal" an installation, down to what kernel the hardware will boot, has
been present in 'real' computers (pSeries, on up....) for some time. 
This is *NOT* an *EVIL* feature,  just one that can be used for
nefarious purposes; like side-arms or nuclear power.

> If that is a desired feature, then it will also be advantageous for
> the BIOS to prevent booting of non-DRM-secured operating systems.
> After all, I can make up a Knoppix spinoff distro, a trojan horse
> whose purpose is to LOOK like Windows booting up, to the point where
> you key in your password to decrypt the hard drive, at which point
> my software squirrels away your password and reboots into the real
> Windows.  All I have to do is quietly stick a CD in your drive!
> The only way to prevent password theft will be to have a BIOS that
> refuses to boot the evil "hacker operating systems" like Linux...
> ...right?

Pretty much; or refuses to boot a "trojan" version of Linux.  Again, I
see legitimate uses for this technology;  and no fundamental reason why
Open Source can't coexist with it (whether it can coexist with an
ignorant populace is the real question).

> > > "Mark my words" :(
> > So what can lowly people like us do to prevent this from happening?
> > Or are we doomed to set back and watch M$ slowly kill Linux?
> Some actions that will have an effect are to vote with our wallets
> (don't support the companies that are eager to rush to the new
> regime) and to speak out whenever -- as they soon will be --
> machines that don't do DRM are characterized as "pirate" computers,
> "hacker" computers, "virus-spreader" computers, etc.

And promote Open Source,  nothing can defeat sheer numbers.  Even M$
itself backs down when the cries get load enough.