[guardian-dev] Fwd: NitroPad: Secure Laptop With Unique Tamper Detection

Wed Mar 4 17:17:17 EST 2020

AFAIK, all librem laptops work with 32GB DIMMs, even though they are
not "certified".

On Wed, Mar 4, 2020 at 6:12 AM Abel Luck <abel at guardianproject.info> wrote:
>
> Looks like the Nitropad x230 just got Qubes certification! Congrats to
> NitroKey.
>
> https://www.qubes-os.org/news/2020/03/04/nitropad-x230-qubes-certification/
>
> My old librem only accepts 16GB RAM, and it is very very difficult to
> use it as my daily development workstation. 32GB is also a practical
> minimum for me when running so many VMs.
>
> I'm not traveling as much these days, so my desktop is working fine.
> Would definitely snap up a Nitrokey model with 32GB+ RAM though,
> especially if it was Qubes certified. I'd definitely prefer buying from
> a "local" EU vendor.
>
> ~abel
>
> Devrandom:
> > Agreed, ergonomics are definitely not top-notch, and I hope there's an
> > iteration that improves things.  However, for development and Qubes I
> > need 32GB.  That, together with the freedom aspect trumps other
> > considerations.
> >
> > On Thu, Jan 16, 2020 at 2:29 AM Hans-Christoph Steiner
> > <hans at guardianproject.info> wrote:
> >>
> >>
> >> I hear you, and I've similar things from others. Fairphone is in a
> >> similar boat.  I think we need to compare apples to apples here: what
> >> Nitrokey, Librem and Fairphone are trying to do is important, no other
> >> providers are doing those things better.  Things like:
> >>
> >> * true free software support
> >> * hardware switches
> >> * repairability
> >> * conflict-free minerals
> >>
> >> .hc
> >>
> >> Abel Luck:
> >>> I have a Purism Librem v3 (the 13" model) and I have to say I am not
> >>> very happy with it.
> >>>
> >>> From a privacy pov, it's nice. ME can be disabled manually. The hardware
> >>> switches are very handy. Rather than ship binary blobs for the bluetooth
> >>> driver, they left that feature out, not compromising. Which I like.
> >>>
> >>> However from an ergonomics/usability pov, I am quite dissatisfied. When
> >>> I say the keyboard is bad, I'm not a keyboard snob. It truly is just a
> >>> bad keyboard, I really dread having to go on the road and use the
> >>> keyboard for any length of time. The trackpad quality is also very low.
> >>>
> >>> Also the laptop comes with a usb c port, which is basically useless as
> >>> it doesn't support thunderbolt, which means no adapter for ethernet or
> >>> external displays. Waste of a port!
> >>>
> >>> I wouldn't buy another Librem :/
> >>>
> >>> That NitroPad looks interesting, but the deal breaker for me is the
> >>> 1366x768 px screen. So small! 1920x1080 is the minimum I would ever get
> >>> in a laptop again.
> >>>
> >>> ~abel
> >>>
> >>> Devrandom:
> >>>> This is a Lenovo.  The Purism laptop goes to 32GB and has hardware kill
> >>>> switches.  It also has secure boot with the Nitrokey and the TPM option,
> >>>> but I didn't try it (yet).
> >>>>
> >>>> On Wed, Jan 8, 2020 at 4:19 AM Hans-Christoph Steiner <
> >>>> hans at guardianproject.info> wrote:
> >>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>> Looks like quite a nice laptop setup for privacy:
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>> -------- Forwarded Message --------
> >>>>> Subject: NitroPad: Secure Laptop With Unique Tamper Detection
> >>>>> Date: Tue, 7 Jan 2020 10:25:13 +0100
> >>>>> From: Nitrokey <info at nitrokey.com>
> >>>>> Reply-To: Nitrokey <info at nitrokey.com>
> >>>>> To: Hans-Christoph Steiner <hans at guardianproject.info>
> >>>>>
> >>>>> Deutsche Übersetzung ist hier:
> >>>>>
> >>>>> https://sendy.nitrokey.com/l/DYw4PK9oeKpCQ4HCJ3sHVA/d891PlpQflj763CzcTeLrLCQ/2drgzRE7oneOhHNyMnMe8g
> >>>>>
> >>>>> Dear Nitrokey supporters!
> >>>>>
> >>>>> Do you think your computer hardware is secure? Can you rule out that in
> >>>>> your absence no one has manipulated your computer? In a world, where
> >>>>> most users do not have any real control over their hardware and have to
> >>>>> blindly trust the security promises of vendors, NitroPad unlocks a
> >>>>> refreshingly new security experience. NitroPad X230 [1] is significantly
> >>>>> more secure than normal computers. With NitroPad, you'll have more
> >>>>> control over your hardware than ever before while maintaining ease of use.
> >>>>>
> >>>>> Features
> >>>>>
> >>>>> Tamper Detection Through Measured Boot
> >>>>>
> >>>>> Thanks to the combination of the open source solutions Coreboot [2],
> >>>>> Heads [3] and Nitrokey USB hardware, you can verify that your laptop
> >>>>> hardware has not been tampered with in transit or in your absence
> >>>>> (so-called evil maid attack). The integrity of the TPM, the firmware and
> >>>>> the operating system is effectively checked by a separate Nitrokey USB
> >>>>> key. Simply connect your Nitrokey to the NitroPad while booting and a
> >>>>> green LED on the Nitrokey will show that your NitroPad has not been
> >>>>> tampered with. If the LED should turn red one day, it indicates a
> >>>>> manipulation.
> >>>>>
> >>>>> Deactivated Intel Management Engine
> >>>>>
> >>>>> Vulnerable and proprietary low-level hardware parts are disabled to make
> >>>>> the hardware more robust against advanced attacks.
> >>>>>
> >>>>> The Intel Management Engine (ME) is some kind of separate computer
> >>>>> within all modern Intel processors (CPU). The ME acts as a master
> >>>>> controller for your CPU and has broad access to your computer (system
> >>>>> memory, screen, keyboard, network). Intel controls the code of the ME
> >>>>> and severe vulnerabilities have been found in the ME enabling local and
> >>>>> remote attacks. Therefore ME can be considered as a backdoor and has
> >>>>> been deactivated in NitroPad.
> >>>>>
> >>>>> Preinstalled Ubuntu Linux With Full-Disk Encryption
> >>>>>
> >>>>> NitroPad ships with a preinstalled Ubuntu Linux 18.04 LTS [4] with
> >>>>> full-disk encryption. Ubuntu is one of the most popular, stable and
> >>>>> easiest to use Linux distributions. Switching from Windows to Linux has
> >>>>> never been easier.
> >>>>>
> >>>>> Optional: Preinstalled Qubes OS For Highest Security Requirements
> >>>>>
> >>>>> Instead of Ubuntu Linux, on request you can get your NitroPad with
> >>>>> preinstalled Qubes OS 4.0 [5] and full-disk encryption.
> >>>>>
> >>>>> Qubes OS enables highly isolated working by means of virtual machines
> >>>>> (VM). A separate VM is started for each application or workspace. This
> >>>>> approach isolates applications and processes much more than conventional
> >>>>> operating systems. Qubes OS keeps your system secure, even if a
> >>>>> vulnerability has been exploited in one of the software applications
> >>>>> used. Example: If your PDF viewer or web browser has been successfully
> >>>>> attacked, the attacker cannot compromise the rest of the system and will
> >>>>> be locked out once the VM is closed.
> >>>>>
> >>>>> In addition, separate virtual workspaces can be used, such as an offline
> >>>>> workspace for secret data and an online workspace for communication.
> >>>>> NitroPad with Qubes OS is technically similar to SINA clients (for
> >>>>> governments), but remains transparent thanks to open source. Qubes OS is
> >>>>> for users who want maximum security.
> >>>>>
> >>>>> Keys Under Your Control
> >>>>>
> >>>>> All individual cryptographic keys are generated directly on the NitroPad
> >>>>> exclusively during installation and are not stored by us. However, all
> >>>>> individual keys can be replaced by you. Unlike "Secure Boot", the keys
> >>>>> for securing the operating system remain under your control and do not
> >>>>> depend on the consent of the vendor.
> >>>>>
> >>>>> Nitrokey USB Key Included
> >>>>>
> >>>>> NitroPad comes with a Nitrokey Pro 2 [6] or a Nitrokey Storage 2 [7].
> >>>>> Their security features include for example email encryption (PGP,
> >>>>> S/MIME), secure server administration (SSH) and two-factor
> >>>>> authentication through one-time passwords (OTP). The Nitrokey Storage 2
> >>>>> additionally contains an encrypted mass storage with hidden volumes.
> >>>>>
> >>>>> Professional ThinkPad Hardware
> >>>>>
> >>>>> Based on Lenovo ThinkPad X230, the hardware finish and robustness meet
> >>>>> professional quality standards. The famous ThinkPad keyboard with
> >>>>> background lighting and TrackPoint allows comfortable working. The used
> >>>>> laptops have been refurbished.
> >>>>>
> >>>>> Out-of-the-Box User Experience
> >>>>>
> >>>>> With NitroPad, you don't need to take care of opening the hardware
> >>>>> casing to flash the BIOS chip, installing and configuring Linux, or
> >>>>> pairing the Nitrokey Pro/Storage. We do this work for you. The Nitrokey
> >>>>> is already configured with your NitroPad so that it can be used for
> >>>>> tamper detection without any further configuration effort.
> >>>>>
> >>>>> Security Conscious Shipping
> >>>>>
> >>>>> To make it more difficult to intercept and manipulate your NitroPad, the
> >>>>> NitroPad and the Nitrokey USB key can be shipped in two separate
> >>>>> shipments if desired.
> >>>>>
> >>>>> Use Cases
> >>>>>
> >>>>> For Everyone
> >>>>>
> >>>>> NitroPad enables you to detect hardware tampering. For example, if your
> >>>>> laptop is being inspected while crossing the border or if you leave your
> >>>>> device unattended in a hotel or during travelling, you can check the
> >>>>> integrity of your NitroPad with the help of the Nitrokey.
> >>>>>
> >>>>> For Enterprises
> >>>>>
> >>>>> NitroPad can serve as a hardened workstation for certificate authorities
> >>>>> and other use cases requiring high-security computers. On business
> >>>>> trips, the NitroPad protects against evil maid attacks while the
> >>>>> computer is unattended in a hotel or baggage.
> >>>>>
> >>>>> For Governments
> >>>>>
> >>>>> Governments can use NitroPad to protect themselves against advanced
> >>>>> persistent threats (APT) without relying on foreign proprietary technology.
> >>>>>
> >>>>> For Journalists
> >>>>>
> >>>>> If you as an investigative journalist are serious about protecting your
> >>>>> confidential sources, NitroPad helps you getting there.
> >>>>>
> >>>>> NitroPad X230 is now available in our Online Shop [1].
> >>>>>
> >>>>> More details are available in the product factsheet [8].
> >>>>>
> >>>>> Kind regards,
> >>>>> your Nitrokey team
> >>>>>
> >>>>> [1]
> >>>>>
> >>>>> https://sendy.nitrokey.com/l/DYw4PK9oeKpCQ4HCJ3sHVA/jZaFd1lbEdmWO6EYOcLzDQ/2drgzRE7oneOhHNyMnMe8g
> >>>>> [2]
> >>>>>
> >>>>> https://sendy.nitrokey.com/l/DYw4PK9oeKpCQ4HCJ3sHVA/YFe1znalGDB8Ua763Ggu9RKw/2drgzRE7oneOhHNyMnMe8g
> >>>>> [3]
> >>>>>
> >>>>> https://sendy.nitrokey.com/l/DYw4PK9oeKpCQ4HCJ3sHVA/cZ8CHlfV3cxRZgMwQJk6fQ/2drgzRE7oneOhHNyMnMe8g
> >>>>> [4]
> >>>>>
> >>>>> https://sendy.nitrokey.com/l/DYw4PK9oeKpCQ4HCJ3sHVA/UXFKS892rBzNshvgAM3iX7Sw/2drgzRE7oneOhHNyMnMe8g
> >>>>> [5]
> >>>>>
> >>>>> https://sendy.nitrokey.com/l/DYw4PK9oeKpCQ4HCJ3sHVA/D8RUORLEDmVGkJAOqOZ12w/2drgzRE7oneOhHNyMnMe8g/
> >>>>> [6]
> >>>>>
> >>>>> https://sendy.nitrokey.com/l/DYw4PK9oeKpCQ4HCJ3sHVA/3NM892YvQl3nQBfzax83fVdg/2drgzRE7oneOhHNyMnMe8g
> >>>>> [7]
> >>>>>
> >>>>> https://sendy.nitrokey.com/l/DYw4PK9oeKpCQ4HCJ3sHVA/892ZG8927tvGnlab4KjZMl8lQg/2drgzRE7oneOhHNyMnMe8g
> >>>>> [8]
> >>>>>
> >>>>> https://sendy.nitrokey.com/l/DYw4PK9oeKpCQ4HCJ3sHVA/ITDgVP8lO6ZSALVagGX892vw/2drgzRE7oneOhHNyMnMe8g
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>> _______________________________________________
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> >>>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>
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> >>
> >> --
> >> PGP fingerprint: EE66 20C7 136B 0D2C 456C  0A4D E9E2 8DEA 00AA 5556
> >> https://pgp.mit.edu/pks/lookup?op=vindex&search=0xE9E28DEA00AA5556
> >> _______________________________________________
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