Motivating Scenarios

Abstract

In this chapter, we try to set the stage for our exploration of trusted computing platforms. In Section 2.1, we consider the adversary, what abilities and access he or she has, and what defensive properties a trusted computing platform might provide. In Section 2.2, we examine some basic usage scenarios in which these properties of a TCP can help secure distributed computations. Section 2.3 presents some example real-world applications that instantiate these scenarios. Section 2.4 describes some basic ways a TCP can be positioned within a distributed application, and whose interests it can protect; Section 2.5 provides some real-world examples. Finally, although this book is not about ideology, the idealogical debate about the potential of industrial trusted computing efforts is part of the picture; Section 2.6 surveys these issues.