A Secure and Reliable Bootstrap Architecture


Published: Apr 12, 2000 Updated: Apr 12, 2000 Section: Network Security Library :: Software Engineering Author: Printable Version Adjust font size: Rating: 2.3/5 - 3 Votes 1 2 3 4 5

In a computer system, the integrity of lower layers is treated as axiomatic by higher layers. Under the presumption that the hardware comprising the machine (the lowest layer) is valid, integrity of a layer can be guaranteed if and only if: (1) the integrity of the lower layers is checked, and (2) transitions to higher layers occur only after integrity checks on them are complete. The resulting integrity ``chain'' inductively guarantees system integrity.

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