The Trusted Computing Group (TCG) is a broad alliance of major hardware and software companies working to create more secure computing environments through the use of secure hardware building blocks and cross-platform software interfaces. The ST19WP18, which entered volume production in mid-2005, is backward compatible with the earlier TCG 1.1b specification ST has already shipped millions, deployed in desktop and laptop computers by leading computer manufacturers.   

The ST19WP18 TPM has been tested successfully with the native device driver in Microsoft^® Windows Vista, and forms a hardware basis for Vista’s new BitLocker Drive Encryption^™ security feature.

“The Trusted Platform Module performs a vital role in Microsoft Windows Vista data protection advancements, and STMicroelectronics has proven to be a world leader in the development of TPM technology,” said Peter Biddle, Product Unit Manager for the System Integrity group at Microsoft. “The TPM enables a hardware root of trust mechanism for our BitLocker Drive Encryption feature in Vista, and ST’s expertise in tamper resistant technology was beneficial in our development of these features. We look forward to further developments along these lines.”

Trusted capabilities are being implemented in the majority of new PC platforms, based on the TCG specifications. In addition to basic validation, the TPM can be used to verify that hardware is unchanged, that the BIOS has not been compromised, and the appropriate and trusted services have been executed. “The need for trusted computing developed as personal computer systems – especially laptop computers and other portable devices – have become more complex and more vulnerable to physical and electronic attack” said Bill Raasch, Vice President of Market Development in ST’s Computer and Peripherals Business Unit, North America Region. “And we are certainly delighted to support these first features Microsoft has chosen to deploy”. 

The Vista support is yet another successful development for ST in the ST19WP18 family. ST also provides a full Windows XP software stack, including the core interface, security services framework, and cryptographic support utilities for PC applications that rely on the TPM, plus the BIOS and Windows 2000 and XP drivers. During the first half of 2006, more than 4 million ST19WP18 chips, which implement the latest and most advanced TCG 1.2 specification, were shipped by OEM’s in Windows XP platforms.

In addition to the TCG recommended TSSOP28 package, the low-cost ST19WP18 is also offered in tiny 4.4mm TSSOP28 and ultra-small VPFQFN packages. Budgetary pricing is around $3.00.

About the Trusted Computing Group
The Trusted Computing Group (TCG) is a not-for-profit organization – of which ST is one of around 140 members – which exists to develop and promote open standards for hardware-enabled trusted computing and security technologies, including hardware building blocks and software interfaces, across multiple platforms, peripherals and devices. Its primary goal is to help users protect their information assets such as data, passwords and keys from compromise due to software attack and physical theft.

The Group was formed as a successor to the Trusted Computing Platform Alliance (TCPA), which was founded in 1999 by Compaq, HP, IBM, Intel and Microsoft. TCG has adopted the existing TCPA specifications, including the Main (TPM 1.1) specification, and PC Specific Implementation specification. A TSS (TCG Software Stack) specification was announced on September 15, 2003, and the TPM 1.2 specification on November 5, 2003. Work groups have been formed for server, storage, and mobile phone implementation specifications.