APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR ENABLING SECURE CONTENT DECRYPTION WITHIN A SET-TOP BOX

An apparatus and method for enabling secure content decryption within a set-top box are described. The method includes performance of security authentication of a content driver by a content decryption component. Security authentication is performed in order to verify an identity of the content driver as a secure content driver. Next, the content decryption component receives an encrypted content stream from the secure content driver. Once received, the content decryption component performs integrity authentication of a run-time image of the secure content driver. Finally, while integrity authentication of the secure content driver is verified, the content decryption component streams decrypted content to the secure content driver to enable playback of the decrypted content to a user.