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[linux-team] CPU Review



Serait-ce encore un truc d'Intel pour augmenter les ventes de Microsoft ?
 
http://www.cpureview.com/art_is.html
 
Title: CPU Review
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Did Tom Miss the Boat?

Intel's new CPU Serial Number Scheme: Copy protection is BAAACK!!!

by William Henning
Editor, CPUReview
Copyright January 22, 1999
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Disclaimer: The contents of this article are the opinions of the author, and 'EvilSoft' is not meant to represent any actual existing company, but a hypothetical business entity that would engage in such anti-consumer practices as outlined below. Trademarks mentioned in this article are the properties of their respective owners.

Tom has an excellent article discussing Intel's new "Platform Security" initiative, with comments from a data security expert - you can find a link to it at the end of this article. While I think that all of the points Tom and his security expert made are valid, I am afraid they missed the obvious use of such a CPU serial number: Copy Protection.

In the PC software world at one time hardware dongles were common - they still are in low-volume, high-priced niche applications (i.e. CAD, industrial control, medical imaging, etc.), however hardware (and disk) based copy protection has pretty much disappeared from the world of consumer software.

Currently, when you install Microsoft (and quite a few other) software products, you are prompted for a unique "serial" number. If you get it wrong, the software may not install (the numbers have a built-in verification check, conceptually similar to "CRC" error checking used to ensure the integrity of data packets).

With Intel's new CPU serial number, the software could easily be locked to run only on that CPU!

Just consider the following scenario:

  1. Joe Smith buys "SuperSoftware 2001", and starts to install it.
  2. The installation program shows a "Registration Number" (based on the CPU serial number) that Joe must enter on a EvilSoft web page to get his "License Code" (this could be an automatic "wizard" that just requires an internet connection, no need to type long numbers!)
  3. 'SuperSoftware 2001' will not run until Joe enters his "License Code"

This is a software publisher's dream, and user's nightmare. Why? Click here to find out!

Check ViewSonic VG180, NEC LCD1810, DVD-RAM, PowerMac G3, Abit BH6, K6-2, Celeron 300A, 686/M2, P-2, Winchip, Linux, Riva TNT, Voodoo II, Matrox G200, Quake II, or Other pricing.

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Edited by
William Henning
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Copyright June 5, 1998
All Rights Reserved
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