Introduction to "Trusted Computing":

Summary: TPM brought into SUSE, handing over control of one's PCs to vendors and corporations

LAST YEAR we wrote about back doors in Windows and maybe in SUSE. We have also shown that TPM quietly entered Linux. This can used as a lock-in, not just a mechanism for controlling computer users remotely (with "security" as a convenient pretext).

According to this new article, SUSE leads the way in this dangerous development, which no doubt will please the secret services.

A team of researchers has implemented support for ‘trusted computing’ in a commercially available version of the open source operating system Linux, breaking new ground in the global drive toward more secure computing environments.

The latest release of openSUSE, a Linux version sponsored by software maker Novell, comes packaged with software that allows users to set up a trusted computing (TC) environment on their computer, enhancing security beyond the antivirus programs and firewalls that frequently prove inadequate at keeping bugs, viruses and spyware at bay.

There is more new information here.

Security Blanket v4.0.0 will include lock down support for openSUSE 11, Novell SUSE 11, and Fedora 11. Additionally, our completely redesigned console streamlines the process of building complex profiles to satisfy your site’s security policy.

This is not a feature, it's an antifeature. ⬆