A computing device has a running real-time secure clock adjustable only
according to trusted time as received from an external trusted time
authority, a time offset within which is stored a time value adjustable
by at least one of the user and the trusted time authority, and a time
display for displaying a running real-time display time calculated as the
trusted time from the secure clock plus the stored time value in the time
offset. Reference thus may be made to the secure clock to evaluate a
temporal requirement without concern that the user has adjusted the
secure clock to subvert the temporal requirement. The computing device
sends a request for secure time and the trusted time authority sends
same. The computing device receives the secure time, sets the secure
clock according to same, and sends confirmation to the trusted time
authority that the secure time has been received.