On Wed, 10 Mar 1999, Tom Zerucha wrote:
> The problem I have with the architecture is I can't *prove* every byte of
> memory is wiped. It would be helpful if the coldboot-clear memory would
> actually zero all of memory as part of the clear, and it shouldn't take
> that long (I would guess about 1/2 Mb/sec depending on wait states - lp:
> moveq.l #0,(a1)+; dbf d0,lp; dbf d1,lp; and you can see why I would
> like an 68EC010 core).
As far as I can see, the bootstrap mode on the EZ processors is the only
way to _prove_ to someone's (well, _my_) satisfaction that the RAM is
empty, and ROM is unchanged -- because bootstrap bypassess all running
code. (Of course, you then have the technical trick of proving that the
bootstrap connection is wired together properly, and it isn't just a
simulation...)
HotSync could be used to upload a program that clears out memory in the
manner Bob describes, but what if HotSync were hacked? Remember that the
NSA is looking for some way of proving there is nothing hidden on the
device.
Practically speaking, I suspect handing in your PalmPro's 2M memory
upgrade card at the end of the day is the only solution they're likely to
even consider.
> > Repeat as many times as necessary. I think that would satisfy any normal
> > security professional, though maybe not Colonel Flag.
>
> Or Colonel Sanders - if he was worried about his original recipie.
On a different note, anyone else remember the "Pocket Brain" series in
Analog, maybe a decade back?
--
Kenneth Albanowski ([EMAIL PROTECTED], CIS: 70705,126)
