1006 results about "Trusted Computing" patented technology

A system and method for processor-based security is provided, for on-chip security and trusted computing services for software applications. A processor is provided having a processor core, a cache memory, a plurality of registers for storing at least one hash value and at least one encryption key, a memory interface, and at least one on-chip instruction for creating a secure memory area in a memory external to the processor, and a hypervisor program executed by the processor. The hypervisor program instructs the processor to execute the at least one on-chip instruction to create a secure memory area for a software area for a software module, and the processor encrypts data written to, and decrypts data read from, the external memory using the at least one encryption key and the verifying data read from the external memory using the at least one hash value. Secure module interactions are provided, as well as the generation of a power-on key which can be used to protect memory in the event of a re-boot event. Lightweight, run-time attestation reports are generated which include selected information about software modules executed by the processors, for use in determining whether the processor is trusted to provide secure services.

A trusted computing environment, such as a smartcard, UICC, Java card, global platform, or the like may be used as a local host trust center and a proxy for a single-sign on (SSO) provider. This may be referred to as a local SSO provider (OP). This may be done, for example, to keep authentication traffic local and to prevent over the air communications, which may burden an operator network. To establish the OP proxy in the trusted environment, the trusted environment may bind to the SSO provider in a number of ways. For example, the SSO provider may interoperate with UICC-based UE authentication or GBA. In this way, user equipment may leverage the trusted environment in order to provide increased security and reduce over the air communications and authentication burden on the OP or operator network.

The objective of this invention is to provide continuous remote authenticated operations for ensuring proper content processing and management in remote untrusted computing environment. The method is based on using a program that was hidden within the content protection program at the remote untrusted computing environment, e.g., an end station. The hidden program can be updated dynamically and it includes an inseparable and interlocked functionality for generating a pseudo random sequence of security signals. Only the media server that sends the content knows how the pseudo-random sequence of security signals were generated; therefore, the media server is able to check the validity of the security signals, and thereby, verify the authenticity of the programs used to process content at the remote untrusted computing environment. If the verification operation fails, the media server will stop the transmission of content to the remote untrusted computing environment.

Security and convenience are provided by a system, apparatus, method, and computer program product that stores two or more encryption keys that correspond to two or more levels of authentication. The encryption keys may be encrypted and decrypted utilizing an endorsement key and trusted computing techniques. Or the encryption keys may be stored in a secure manner utilizing key protection techniques, such as cryptographic camouflaging. A first encryption key is recovered automatically for the first level of authentication. And input is requested to recover the second encryption key for the second level of authentication.

A system and method allows a user to authenticate a communication from a computer system, a computer system to authenticate a user, or both. When a user requests a web page from the web site, customization information that is recognizable to the user is provided to allow the user to authenticate the web site. A signed, encrypted persistent file stored on the user's computer system or installed on a different computer system, or a trusted computing subsystem allows the web site to authenticate the user. If the user is using a system that will not allow that user to be authenticated, the user may instruct the system to continue providing information without the user's customization information. The system and method may be used to allow the user to authenticate an e-mail message or its source, and Flash movies or other computer code may be used if the user's e-mail client does not employ cookies.

A trusted threat-aware microvisor may be deployed as a module of a trusted computing base (TCB) that also includes a root task module configured to cooperate with the microvisor to load and initialize one or more other modules executing on a node of a network environment. The root task may cooperate with the microvisor to allocate one or more kernel resources of the node to those other modules. As a trusted module of the TCB, the microvisor may be configured to enforce a security policy of the TCB that, e.g., prevents alteration of a state related to security of the microvisor by a module of or external to the TCB. The security policy of the TCB may be implemented by a plurality of security properties of the microvisor. Trusted (or trustedness) may therefore denote a predetermined level of confidence that the security property is demonstrated by the microvisor.

A trusted threat-aware microvisor may be deployed as a module of a trusted computing base (TCB). The microvisor is illustratively configured to enforce a security policy of the TCB, which may be implemented as a security property of the microvisor. The microvisor may manifest (i.e., demonstrate) the security property in a manner that enforces the security policy. Trustedness denotes a predetermined level of confidence that the security property is demonstrated by the microvisor. The predetermined level of confidence is based on an assurance (i.e., grounds) that the microvisor demonstrates the security property. Trustedness of the microvisor may be verified by subjecting the TCB to enhanced verification analysis configured to ensure that the TCB conforms to an operational model with an appropriate level of confidence over an appropriate range of activity. The operational model may then be configured to analyze conformance of the microvisor to the security property. A combination of conformance by the microvisor to the operational model and to the security property provides assurance (i.e., grounds) for the level of confidence and, thus, verifies trustedness.

A method, system, and apparatus for verifying integrity and execution state of an untrusted computer. In one embodiment, the method includes placing a verification function in memory on the untrusted computer; invoking the verification function from a trusted computer; determining a checksum value over memory containing both the verification function and the execution state of a processor and hardware on the untrusted computer; sending the checksum value to the trusted computer; determining at the trusted computer whether the checksum value is correct; and determining at the trusted computer whether the checksum value is received within an expected time period.

Application execution contexts within an untrusted computer system are classified as trusted or untrusted based on respective names assigned to the execution contexts. If an application runs in an untrusted execution context, an operating system within the untrusted computer system prevents the application from initiating a connection with a trusted computer system and accessing sensitive parts of the untrusted computer system. If the application runs in a trusted execution context, the operating system permits the application to initiate a connection with the trusted computer system.

The invention discloses a trust chain transfer method for a trusted computing platform. A trusted computing module (TCM) serving as a starting point of starting a trust chain is started and actively initiated at first to verify the trustiness of a BIOS (basic input output system) chip; after the trusted BIOS chip is started, a MAIN BLOCK of the BIOS chip performs concentrated integrity verification on key files of an MBR (master boot record), an operating system loader and an operating system kernel; in the starting process of an operating system, the starting and running of an unauthorized program are prevented in a way of combining the integrity verification based on a white list and running program control; and hashing operations for the integrity verification are finished by a hardware computing engine. When a user starts any executable program, a security module in the operating system kernel checks the integrity of the program and checks whether the program is in the trusted program white list or not, and only application programs which are in the trusted program white list of the system and have integrity measures consistent with an expected value are permitted to be run. High-efficiency and fine-grained trust chain transfer is realized, the damages of viruses to system files and program files can be prevented, and the execution of the unauthorized program can be prevented.

The present invention is directed to a system for providing a trusted environment for untrusted computing systems. The system may include a HAC subsystem managing shared resources and a trusted bus switch for controlling a COTS processor to access the shared resources. The shared resources such as memory and several I/O resources reside on the trusted side of the trusted bus switch. Alternatively, the system may include a SCM as an add-on module to an untrusted host environment. Only authenticated applications including COTS OS execute on the SCM while untrusted applications execute on the untrusted host environment. The SCM may control secure resource access from the untrusted host through a plug-in module interface. All secure resources may be maintained on the trusted side of the plug-in module interface.

A method, apparatus, and computer program product are disclosed in a data processing system for establishing virtual endorsement credentials. The data processing system includes a hardware trusted platform module (TPM). Logical partitions are generated in the system. A different virtual TPM is generated for each one of the logical partitions. For each one of the logical partitions, the virtual TPM that was generated for the logical partition then dynamically generates a virtual endorsement credential for use by the logical partition that includes the virtual TPM. The virtual endorsement credential is generated within the data processing system without the data processing system or its devices accessing a trusted third party that is external to the data processing system.

A method, apparatus, and computer program product are described for implementing a trusted computing environment within a data processing system. The data processing system includes a primary hardware trusted platform module (TPM) and a secondary hardware backup TPM. The data processing system also includes multiple logical partitions. The primary hardware TPM is used to provide trusted computing services to the logical partitions. A determination is made as to whether the primary hardware TPM is malfunctioning. If a determination is made that the primary hardware TPM is malfunctioning, the secondary hardware TPM is designated as a new primary hardware TPM and is utilized instead of the primary TPM to provide trusted computing services to the logical partitions.

A client/server system has a client platform adapted to provide restricted use of data provided by a serve. The client platform comprises a display, secure communications means, and a memory containing image receiving code for receiving data from a server by the secure communication means and for display of such data. The client platform is adapted such that the data received from a server is used for display of the data and not for an unauthorised purpose. A server adapted to provide data to a client platform for restricted use by the client platform comprises a memory containing image sending code for providing an image of data executed on the server, and secure communications means for secure communication of images of data to a client platform. The server is adapted to determine that a client platform is adapted to ensure restricted use of the data before it is sent by the image sending code.

A method, computer program, and system for paging platform configuration registers in and out of a trusted platform module. In a trusted computing platform, an unlimited number of platform configuration registers can be obtained through paging. The trust platform module encrypts and decrypts platform configuration registers for storage outside the trusted platform module.

A method and system for enforcing trusted computing (TC) policies in a security module architecture for a hypervisor. Upon receiving a request from a subject for access to an object, TC-related attribute values are obtained for the subject and the object based on a virtualized trusted platform module (vTPM). Access control decisions are the made based at least on the TC-related attribute values and TC-related policies.

A method of security monitoring of data files in a computer platform is carried out by a trusted component having a processor and trusted memory area. The method comprises creating one or a plurality of data files in an untrusted memory area of said computing platform, for each created data file, periodically generating a digest data by applying a hash function to each data file, storing the digest data in a trusted memory area and for each file periodically comparing a current digest data of the file with a previously generated digest data of the file. Any differences between a previous and a current digest data indicate that a file in the untrusted memory area has been corrupted.

Techniques for managing and protecting computing environments are disclosed. A safe computing environment can be provided for ensuring the safety and/or management of a device. The safe computing environment can be secured by a safe component that isolates and protects it from unsafe computing environments which may also be operating. As a result, various security and management activities can be securely performed from a safe computing environment. A safe computing environment can, for example, be provided on a device as a safe virtual computing environment (e.g., a safe virtual machine) protected by a safe virtual computing monitor (e.g., a safe virtual machine monitor) from one or more other virtual computing environments that are not known or not believed to be safe for the device. It will also be appreciated that the safe components can, for example, be provided as trusted components for a device. As such, various trusted components (or agent) can operate in a trusted computing environment secured from interference by components that many not be trusted and perform various security and/or management tasks alone or in connection, for example, with other trusted components (e.g., trusted serves).

A computer network of an enterprise includes a central management computer linking at least one trusted host computer with at least one user computer. The trusted host computer is not used for normal day-to-day activities within the enterprise, and may also not be used for reading electronic mail nor for accessing the Internet and downloading Web site content. Antivirus software on the user computer screens for suspect activity or features and, if found, the suspect activity or features are compared to rules database. If a determination of malware cannot be made, then these unresolved activities or features are sent to the central management computer to be compared to the trusted, known activities and features of the trusted computer. The suspect activities may be deemed acceptable if activities are shared amongst a certain number of user computers all configured to perform the same function. A user computer may be compared against itself over time.