Encryption measures in Microsoft’s forthcoming Windows
Vista operating system could block the efforts of anti-terrorism
and crime investigators, MPs have been warned.
Windows Vista will support the Trusted Platform Module (TPM)
chips that manufacturers are installing in PCs in a bid to restrict
downloading of copyright music, videos or software, Cambridge
University professor of security engineering Ross Anderson told the
Commons home affairs committee.
“What this means is that by default your hard disc will be
encrypted using a key that you cannot physically get at,” he
said.
“An unfortunate side effect of this from the point of view of
law enforcement is that it is going to be technically fairly
seriously difficult to dig encrypted material out of systems if
people have set it up competently.”
Professor Anderson told the committee hearing on the detention
of terrorism suspects that there had been discussion about “whether
there might in the medium term be some kind of obligation placed on
computer vendors, hardware vendors like Intel or software vendors
like Microsoft, to see to it that 'back door' keys be made
available”.
The Home Office should discuss the issue now with Microsoft,
rather than waiting for Windows Vista to be shipped in November, he
argued.