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Secured-Core PCs are Microsoft’s answer to firmware attacks
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Published onOctober 22, 2019
published onOctober 22, 2019
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Microsoftannounced a new initiative called Secure-Core PCs that aims to address thethreatstargeted at the firmware and operating systems level.
As part of this new initiative, the tech giant is collaborating with PC manufacturing partners like Intel, AMD, and Qualcomm.
Secured-core PCs have to meet certain requirements
These secured devices meet a specific set of requirements to better protect the firmware layer and offer moresecurityto the Windows operating system.
As such, they’re primarily intended for industries that work with highly-sensitive data, asMicrosoftexplains:
These devices are designed specifically for industries like financial services, government and healthcare, and for workers that handle highly-sensitive IP, customer or personal data, including PII as these are higher value targets for nation-state attackers.
As you already know, the hacking group Strontium targeted many systems last year, and again this year, by delivering malware through firmware attacks.
Why? Because through firmware you can get directly to thehardware, thus gaining higher privilege thanthe hypervisor and operating system kernel.
Keep your PC safe against hackers with these amazing software tools!
What is a Secured-core PC?
That’s the reason whyMicrosoftis betting big onSecured-core PCs:
Secured-core PCs combine identity, virtualization, operating system,hardwareand firmware protection to add another layer ofsecurityunderneath the operating system. Unlike software-only security solutions, Secured-core PCs are designed to prevent these kinds of attacks rather than simply detecting them.
With Secured-core PCs customers can boot securely, prevent and protect against firmware attacks, prevent unauthorised access, and credentials protection.
They can also beremotely monitoredby SecOps and IT admins to make sure that the system health and thehardwareare not susceptible to any immediatethreats.
Along with Secure Boot, UEFI, and newhardwarecapabilities,Windows 10will have a newSecured-core PC requirement called System Guard Secure Launch.
If you’re interested in better securing your data, you’ll be happy to know that manufacturers likeDell, Dynabook, HP,Lenovo, Panasonic and Surface, offer verified Secured-core PC.
For more info about Secure-core PCs and the full list of verified devices, check outMicrosoft’s official page.
More about the topics:Cybersecurity,malware,microsoft
Vlad Turiceanu
Windows Editor
Passionate about technology,Windows, and everything that has a power button, he spent most of his time developing new skills and learning more about the tech world.
Coming from a solid background in PC building and software development, with a complete expertise in touch-based devices, he is constantly keeping an eye out for the latest and greatest!
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Vlad Turiceanu
Windows Editor
Coming from a solid background in PC building and software development, he’s a Windows 11 Privacy & Security expert.
