Windows 7 includes support for the Trusted Computing Group (www.trustedcomputinggroup. org) and its Trusted Platform Module (TPM) architecture.

• TThe TPM architecture defines options for adding firmware and hardware to computers to detect low-level tampering before the operating system starts.
• Optional hardware such as smart cards and USB keys holding digital identification can be used
• As part of the TPM solution to make sure that stolen computers can't be started or have their hard drive decrypted.
• The required hardware key must be present to start the computer.