Abstract: Methods, software/firmware and apparatus for implementing a tamper-aware virtual trusted platform module (TPM). Under the method, respective threads comprising a virtual TPM thread and a security-patrol threads are executed on a host processor. In one embodiment, the host processor is a multi-threaded processor having multiple logical processors, and the respective threads are executed on different logical processors. While the virtual TPM thread is used to perform various TPM functions, the security-patrol thread monitors for physical attacks on the processor by implementing various numerical calculation loops, wherein an erroneous calculation is indicative of a physical attack. In response to detection of such an attack, various actions can be taken in view of one or more predefined security policies, such as logging the event, shutting down the platform and/or informing a remote management entity.

Abstract: A method and system is provided for securing micro-architectural instruction caches (I-caches). Securing an I-cache involves maintaining a different substantially random instruction mapping policy into an I-cache for each of multiple processes, and for each process, performing a substantially random mapping scheme for mapping a process instruction into the I-cache based on the substantially random instruction mapping policy for said process. Securing the I-cache may further involve dynamically partitioning the I-cache into multiple logical partitions, and sharing access to the I-cache by an I-cache mapping policy that provides access to each I-cache partition by only one logical processor.

Abstract: A method and system is provided for securing micro-architectural instruction caches (I-caches). Securing an I-cache involves providing security critical instructions to indicate a security critical code section; and implementing an I-cache locking policy to prevent unauthorized eviction and replacement of security critical instructions in the I-cache. Securing the I-cache may further involve dynamically partitioning the I-cache into multiple logical partitions, and sharing access to the I-cache by an I-cache mapping policy that provides access to each I-cache partition by only one logical processor.

Abstract: In a first embodiment of the present invention, a method for managing digital assets of a user over multiple home network-enabled devices, the method comprising: receiving information, from a plurality of home network-enabled personal devices, regarding digital assets accessed by the personal devices, wherein the plurality of personal devices are owned or operated by the user and the information is automatically gathered by each personal device tracking its own usage; storing the information; and providing, to one of the plurality of personal devices, identifications of digital assets accessed by the personal devices by accessing the stored information.

Abstract: An apparatus for calculating a modular multiplication includes an examiner for examining digits of the multiplier with a lookahead algorithm to obtain a multiplication shift value. In addition, a determinator and intermediate-result shift value are provided which determine a positive intermediate-result shift value. A calculator for calculating a multiplicand shift value as the difference between the intermediate-result shift value and the multiplication shift value. The intermediate result from the preceding iteration step as well as the multiplicand are then shifted by the corresponding shifting magnitudes to then perform a three-operands addition with the shifted values, if need be while considering lookahead parameters.

Abstract: Improved techniques for obtaining authentication identifiers, authentication, and receiving services are disclosed. Multiple devices can be used for receiving service from a servicing entity (e.g., Service Providers). More particularly, a first device can be used to authenticate a first entity (e.g., one or more persons) for receiving services from the servicing entity, but the services can be received by a second device. Generally, the first device can be a device better suited, more preferred and/or more secure for authentication related activates including “Identity Management.” The second device can be generally more preferred for receiving and/or using the services. In addition, a device can be designated for authentication of an entity. The device releases an authentication identifier only if the entity has effectively authorized its release, thereby allowing “User Centric” approaches to “Identity Management.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for establishing a secure multicast channel between a service provider and a terminal is provided. A request is received from the service provider for a configuration of the terminal. A configuration of the terminal at a first time is sent to the service provider. A security key is obtained, wherein the security is bound to the configuration of the terminal at the first time. Then the security key is decrypted using a configuration of the terminal at a second time, wherein the decryption fails if the configuration of the terminal at the second time is not identical to the configuration of the terminal at the first time. A secure multicast channel is then established with the service provider using the security key.

Abstract: Methods and devices for increasing or hardening the security of data stored in a storage device, such as a hard disk drive, are described. A storage device provides for increased or hardened security of data stored in hidden and non-hidden partitions of a storage medium in the device. An algorithm may be utilized for deriving a key that is used to encrypt or decrypt text before it is read from or written to the hard disk. The algorithm accepts as input a specific media location factor, such as an end address or start address of the block where the text is being read from or written to, and a secret key of the storage component. The output of the algorithm is a final key that may be used in the encryption and decryption process. Thus, in this manner, the final key is dependent on the location of the block where the data is being written or read, thereby making it more difficult to tamper with the data, which may be stored in a hidden or non-hidden partition of a hard disk.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and system, the apparatus including, in some embodiments, a printed circuit board (PCB), an integrated circuit (IC) positioned over and electrically connected to the PCB, a chip positioned between the PCB and the IC, and a closed boundary barrier between and contacting the PCB and the IC to define an inner containment area that completely contains the chip within the inner containment area.

Abstract: Improved verification techniques for verification of the integrity of various computing environments and/or computing systems are disclosed. Verifiable representative data can effectively represent verifiable content of a computing environment, thereby allowing the integrity of the computing environment to be verified based on the verifiable representative data instead of the content being represented. Verifiable representative data can effectively include selected portions of the content (e.g., selected content which may be of general and/or specific security interest) and can be generally smaller than the verifiable content it represents. As such, it may generally be more efficient to use the verifiable representative data instead of the content it represents. Verifiable representative data can also be organized. By way of example, unstructured content (e.g., a configuration file written in text) can be effectively transformed based on a scheme (e.g.

Abstract: Methods and systems for regulating services provided by a first computing entity, such as a server, to a second computing entity, such as a client are described. A first entity receives a request for a service from a second entity over a network. The first entity determines whether the second entity has a trusted agent by examining an attestation report from the second entity. The first entity transmits a message to the second entity. The trusted agent on the second entity may receive the message. A response is created at the second computing entity and received at the first entity. The first entity then provides the service to the second entity. The first entity may transmit an attestation challenge to the second entity and in response receives an attestation report from the second entity.

Abstract: Improved techniques for controlling access to accessible components of computing environments are disclosed. The techniques, among other things, can be used to provide Mandatory Access Control (MAC) mechanisms for mobile and embedded systems. One or more accessible components (e.g., accessible resources) which a component may attempt to access are determined so that one or more access permissions can be stored in a manner that they can be obtained if the component attempts to access the one or more accessible components, thereby allowing access to the one or more accessible components to be determined based on access permissions that are readily available. Generally, access permissions can be identified and stored in anticipation of need. Access permissions can be identified, for example, based on the likelihood of use, or all possible access permissions can be determined and stored. A safe (e.g.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: Methods, software/firmware and apparatus for implementing a tamper-aware virtual trusted platform module (TPM). Under the method, respective threads comprising a virtual TPM thread and a security-patrol threads are executed on a host processor. In one embodiment, the host processor is a multi-threaded processor having multiple logical processors, and the respective threads are executed on different logical processors. While the virtual TPM thread is used to perform various TPM functions, the security-patrol thread monitors for physical attacks on the processor by implementing various numerical calculation loops, wherein an erroneous calculation is indicative of a physical attack. In response to detection of such an attack, various actions can be taken in view of one or more predefined security policies, such as logging the event, shutting down the platform and/or informing a remote management entity.

Abstract: Techniques for detecting unauthorized use (e.g., malicious attacks) of the computing systems (e.g., computing devices) are disclosed. Unauthorized use can be detected based on patterns of use (e.g., behavioral patterns of use typically associated with a human being) of the computing systems. Acceptable behavioral pattern data can be generated for a computing system by monitoring the use of a support system (e.g., an operating system, a virtual environment) operating on the computing system. For example, a plurality of system support provider components of a support system (e.g., system calls, device drivers) can be monitored in order to generate the acceptable behavioral pattern data in a form which effectively defines an acceptable pattern of use (usage pattern) for the monitored system support provider components, thereby allowing detection of unauthorized use of a computing system by detecting any deviation from the acceptable pattern of use of the monitored system support provider components.

Abstract: Apparatus for calculating a result of a modular multiplication of a first operand and a second operand with regard to a modulus, each having a length of 2 n bits, the operands and the modulus are split into sub-operands of half the length and are fed to controller controlling MMD unit for performing a MultModDiv operation in accordance with a predetermined step sequence with corresponding input operands and MMD moduli to obtain integer quotient values and residual values with regard to the MMD modulus at an output. The combiner is operable to combine integer quotient values and residual values from predetermined steps of the step sequence to obtain the result.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a multi-stakeholder environment is controlled by first assigning a first domain to a first stakeholder and a second domain to a second stakeholder. Then a first access policy is defined for the first domain and access is restricted to the first domain for the second stakeholder according to the first access policy. In another embodiment, an access request is handled in a multi-stakeholder environment by first receiving parameters forwarded by hooks in system call functions in a kernel of the multi-stakeholder environment, wherein the parameters contain information about a first stakeholder requesting access to a domain corresponding to a second stakeholder. Then it is determined whether to allow the first stakeholder to access the domain based at least partially upon security settings corresponding to the domain.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: In an embodiment of the present invention, the ability for a user or process to set or modify affinities is restricted in order to method for control a multi-processor environment. This may be accomplished by using a reference monitor that controls a process' capability to retrieve and set its or another process' affinity. This aids in the prevention of security breaches.

Abstract: A device for generating a pseudorandom sequence of numbers includes a feedforward coupler, which has a plurality of memory units, and a feedback coupler connected between an input and an output of the feedforward coupler. The feedback coupler includes a changeable feedback characteristic and is embodied to change the feedback characteristic depending on a state of a memory unit of the plurality of memory units of the feedforward coupler.