HP unveils Trusted PC

Hewlett-Packard (HP) has taken the wraps off its Trusted PC security initiative.

The system, which has been in development in the UK since October, uses a smartcard to check whether a PC is working properly before booting up. Once a system is deemed usable, the user can then go ahead and start working on it.

Jamie Snowdon, analyst at Input, wondered why Microsoft isn't doing it. "A PC that can ensure the operating system is working and can check for viruses has got to be a winner," he said, adding: "Something like this doesn't have to be adopted by other companies. In a way, it gives HP an advantage over competitors - they should keep it to themselves."

Snowdon said the system would win "brownie points" in the business market if it could be tailored to deal with network monitoring.