For Windows Vista and later versions of the Windows family of operating systems, kernel-mode software must have a digital signature to load on x64-based computer systems. Why digital signatures? For both consumer and enterprise users of Windows around the world, protecting personal and corporate data remains a top concern. Microsoft is committed to implementing new ways to help restrict the spread of malicious software. Digital signatures for kernel-mode software are an important way to ensure security on computer systems. Digital signatures allow the administrator or end user who is installing Windows-based software to know whether a legitimate publisher has provided the software package. When users choose to send Windows Error Reporting data to Microsoft after a fault or other error occurs, Microsoft can analyze the data to know which publishers' software was running on the system at the time of the error. Software publishers can then use the information provided by Microsoft to find and fix problems in their software. N.B. Microsoft says they won't charge for it, but they require that you have a Class 3 Commercial Software Publisher Certificate from Verisign. This costs $500 [EUR 412] per year, and as the name implies, is only available to commercial entities. _______________________________ Source: Bink, Read more: Microsoft
not nessaryly... this doesn't look like it'll happen to home systems..... it looks like it applies to business or corperate systems .... i mean yes.... we'll see this being required.. but i'm sure there will be a method in which modded sets will still work..
According to the white paper, there will be a way for the user to turn of the enforcement module, allowing unsigned drivers to be installed. There's always a work-around, otherwise you could not develop and test drivers in the first place.
Well, that means no more free third party drivers. Nobody is going to pay the outrageous fee for the digital signiture for free software.
I could see a public key that is shared for free or a very small amount. someone buys a key and setups a community to share this one key, say 10$ to join our community and use our key. I still think this is very stupid, most problems are not because home or corp users use bad drivers, it's because they keep using outdated drivers.
I dont think this is as big an issue as some are making it out to be. I can't possibly believe they wouldn't allow for this to be turned off by an administrator. If they didn't, I would be death for the OS, or at least a huge drawback (I know I wouldn;t buy it). Lets just see how this one turns out.
