Post #1086939

2026-04-04 13:33 UTC

On the one hand software freedom. On the other this has me thinking about how fascinating this problem is from academic standpoint. How can you ensure software can ONLY run on the machines you allow? Even if the user has ring 0 access? Is it mathematically impossible to achieve?

Replies (6)

@someacnt@sh.itjust.works 2026-04-05 03:44

I don’t think this is matter of mathematics, it is difficult to define what “software only running on desired machine” is. Like, do you permit functionally equal software with different code? With painstaking effort, functionality should be approximated fairly close (although idk what that means in mathematical context) On the other hand, requiring exact code is likely not what they want. Cryptographic guarantee requires mathematical specification, which seems ill-fit in this scenario.

Open ##1086938
@LedgeDrop@lemmy.zip 2026-04-04 17:50

It’s totally possible to achieve. TPM is the desktop equivalent of the technology that runs on your cellphone to have apps detect if you have an unlocked bootloader or root. It’s the same technology prevents your favorite concole (ie: switch 2, ect) from running pirated games. This improved security does come at a price: we/the users are the enemy and cannot be trusted. This means modifying your system will be prohibited and we (the consumer) will have to trust that Big Tech has our best interests in mind. /s

Open ##1087763
@SpikesOtherDog@ani.social 2026-04-04 17:15

SAAS. You never install the entire application. Large parts of the engine never run locally.

Open ##1262723
@ImgurRefugee114@reddthat.com 2026-04-04 15:55

Yes

Open ##2663425
@redsand@infosec.pub 2026-04-05 02:36

Only with a client server model like in multiplayer or always online games. DRM is a conceptual scam. This kind of attack is unpatchable. It's essentially a blue pill attack against a single program.

Open ##2663426
@aurelar@lemmy.ml 2026-04-05 14:56

Practically speaking, people already have cell phones that are impossible to own, because in many cases, users are not allowed to unlock the bootloaders of their phones.

Open ##2663427