Google reveals its servers all contain custom security silicon

Post by sphix » Mon, Jan 16, 2017, 5:57 PM UTC

nom wrote: post #7

woliveirajr wrote: post #3

> Disks get the following treatment: > “We enable hardware encryption support in our hard drives and SSDs and meticulously track each drive through its lifecycle. Before a decommissioned encrypted storage device can physically leave our custody, it is cleaned using a multi-step process that includes two independent verifications. Devices that do not pass this wiping procedure are physically destroyed (e.g. shredded)…

'multi-step process' doesn't imply they are wiping more than once, only that their procedure consists of multiple steps (e.g. wipe + verification)

Post by hedora » Mon, Jan 16, 2017, 6:10 PM UTC

kabdib wrote: post #22

pm90 wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I understand how one may consider this a "closed ecosystem" from one perspective. However, from a customer point of view any startup or mom-and-pop can leverage these very complex and expensive world-class security developments, whereas in the past this access has been reserved to the very select few that could afford it. When the barrier to entry is lowered and access is commoditized, customer wins. I don't unders…

Pressure from governments to not supply consumers with hardware that is resistant to surveillance is one reason. AFAIK, the consumer systems that are most resistant to physical attack (and that lack spooky things like Intel's system management CPU) are game consoles. The hardening is a requirement for anti-piracy and anti-cheating, and in newer generations of consoles it's been quite successful. Recent iPhones are a…

Post by kakarot » Mon, Jan 16, 2017, 6:16 PM UTC

a_imho wrote: post #60

dx034 wrote: post #40

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Exactly, and I think it's worth noting that they likely only apply this level of security because of state actors. Which then shows that they are trying to prevent eavesdropping by NSA & Co., they probably just realized too late how far advanced they were.

Which then shows that they are trying to prevent eavesdropping by NSA & Co. Why would the NSA eavesdrop on Google, they are in bed with them, aren't they?

Post by tlb » Mon, Jan 16, 2017, 6:27 PM UTC

Post by cmdrfred » Mon, Jan 16, 2017, 6:35 PM UTC

hedora wrote: post #63

kabdib wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Pressure from governments to not supply consumers with hardware that is resistant to surveillance is one reason. AFAIK, the consumer systems that are most resistant to physical attack (and that lack spooky things like Intel's system management CPU) are game consoles. The hardening is a requirement for anti-piracy and anti-cheating, and in newer generations of consoles it's been quite successful. Recent iPhones are a…

> Recent iPhones are a distant second in terms of security architecture. Source? Apple does some pretty sophisticated stuff around hardware security mechanisms and software correctness. (I genuinely want a technical description of the mechanisms consoles use these days so I can read it -- not trying to start an argument...)