Trusted Computing Group
| File:Trusted Computing Group logo.png | |
| Company type | Consortium |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2003 |
| Founder | AMD, Hewlett-Packard, IBM, Intel, Microsoft |
| Headquarters | , United States |
| Website | trustedcomputinggroup |
The Trusted Computing Group originated in 2003 as the successor organization to the Trusted Computing Platform Alliance (TCPA), which was initially created in 1999 with the purpose of establishing Trusted Computing standards for personal computer platforms. Prominent founding members encompass Intel, AMD, IBM, Microsoft, and Cisco.
This initiative focuses on enabling hardware producers to regulate software operation by limiting execution to authorized software only.
History
The TCPA consortium was founded on October 11, 1999, by companies such as Compaq, Hewlett-Packard, IBM, Intel, and Microsoft with the objective of enhancing trustworthiness and security within personal computing environments. Within its inaugural month, the alliance expanded to include more than seventy hardware and software firms. On January 30, 2001, TCPA published version 1.0 of its Trusted Computing Platform Specifications. IBM became the earliest original equipment manufacturer to embed these hardware capabilities into its ThinkPad T30 laptop model in 2002.
By 2003, the TCPA evolved into the Trusted Computing Group, broadening its scope to encompass mobile device technologies.
Membership dues are structured by level: Promoters contribute $30,000 annually; Contributors pay $15,000; and Adopters are charged between $2,500 and $7,500 based on organizational size.
Overview
The most notable achievement of TCG is the creation of the Trusted Platform Module (TPM), a semiconductor intellectual property core that facilitates trusted computing functionalities in both computers and mobile gadgets. Additional projects include Trusted Network Connect, which targets securing network access, and Storage Core Architecture / Security Subsystem Class, which addresses trusted computing applications for storage devices and disk drives. Nevertheless, these supplementary initiatives have not attained the widespread market penetration enjoyed by TPM.
Criticism
The organization has encountered resistance from advocates of free software who express apprehension regarding user privacy and the risk of consumer lock-in, especially when TPM technology is utilized within digital rights management (DRM) frameworks. Such critiques have been voiced by communities including Linux and FreeBSD users as well as broader software developer groups.
ISO standardization
In 2009, the TPM specifications were standardized by ISO/IEC through multiple publications:
- ISO/IEC 11889-1:2009 — Overview
- ISO/IEC 11889-2:2009 — Design principles
- ISO/IEC 11889-3:2009 — Structures
- ISO/IEC 11889-4:2009 — Commands