A Trusted Platform Module (TPM) is a secure coprocessor found in some x86-based computers that provides cryptographic operations and system integrity measurements.
A Trusted Platform Module is a secure cryptoprocessor defined by the Trusted Computing Group and found on some x86 processors. It performs platform measurements that an operating system can use to ensure platform integrity, thus implementing a form of secure boot. The TPM also implements some common cryptographic algorithms. Each TPM contains a unique key and can therefore be used to authenticate the platform and to encrypt data that will not be decryptable without that particular TPM.
TrouSerS is an open-source TCG software stack (a TPM API). Microsoft's Bitlocker on Windows Vista and above leverages the TPM when present.
