3 ms·

They're used for more than that, but I agree it's unfortunate that DRM is a major use case.

• TeMPOraL 8y ago
  'LeifCarrotson didn't say "DRM", though it's kind of implied as a part. Third parties preventing device owner from operating the device is a cornerstone of information security, justified by observing that regular folks are very prone to selfpwning themselves if a little of social engineering is applied (+ it's hard in general to distinguish user-initiated actions from sofware-initiated ones). It's important to remember that legit security needs and user freedoms start to be in conflict pretty much as soon as the device in question gets connected to the Internet.
  • userbinator 8y ago
    Also known as "authoritarianism", and the security community seems to be full of it. After all, isn't it more secure if the user can't do anything at all and the device controls the user? Let's not forget that DRM also goes beyond preventing consumption of media (although that is a big application) --- it can be, and is, also used to force users to accept unwanted behaviour of software. Win10's deeply embedded telemetry is one example: It would be relatively easy to patch out if it weren't for the files being signed and "protected" by "secure" boot, and the constant barrage of updates (not all of which are for fixing remote unattended attacks, IMHO the ones which are actually important.) The situation is much worse on mobile devices.
    • snaky 8y ago
      > Also known as "authoritarianism", and the security community seems to be full of it. This, exactly. Maybe that's déformation professionnelle of a kind.