Trust and Trusted Computing Platforms

This paper examines the capabilities and limitations of hardware-based trusted platforms in general, and the Trusted Platform Module (TPM) from the perspective of trusted applications in particular. Through this examination, the authors obtain an understanding of the methods recommended and used to extend trust to higher levels of infrastructure and application software. This paper also examines the nature of trust and trustworthiness and draws some tentative conclusions on why the TPM has not yet had the market success one might expect. This paper focuses on the TPM and trust issues.