Intel believes that malacious codes, viruses and other security threats may become a worry of the past. Inte's R&D team is currently working on Trusted Execution Technlogy, previously known as LaGrande. Trusted Execution Technology or TXT will use hardware keys and subsystems to control what part of a computer's resources can be accessed and who or what will be granted or denied access.
Going beyond the NX bit, or the Non-execution bit that is currently enabled inside recent processors from both AMD and Intel, TXT will bring a whole new dimension of security to PCs. TXT will also be able to work in a virtualized environment on systems with Intel's VT technology. Guest operating systems will be able to take advantage of features on a TXT-enabled platform.
Intel will also provide a mechanism called Attestation for TXT, which is a self-monitoring component that ensures that the TXT system was enabled properly. Attestation will provide monitoring, as well as applications running in protected space.
Processors will have split execution spaces called partitions, similar to the concept of partitions on a hard drive. These partitions can be labeled as protected or non-protected. Standard partitions, those that are not protected, are now referred to as "legacy" partitions. A TXT-enabled processor will be able to have both a legacy and protected partition coexist together. Chipsets will also be designed with TXT technology. According to Intel, every part of a TXT-enabled platform will have the technology built in so that every pathway that is traversed by data will be able to offer a high level of security. With TXT, Intel is taking a no-compromise approach to securing data. All components of a system will be protected:
- Processor execution memory
- Processor event handling
- System memory
- Memory and chipset paths
- Storage subsystems
- Human input devices
- Graphics output
Currently close to being finished, Intel will demonstrate the first working implementations of TXT technology sometime in 2007 on Intel vPro platforms.
To view TXT's list of executions, read the rest of the article... 
News source: DailyTech
Starting fromthe use of more advanced Trusted Platform Module (TPM) chips and addingnew hardware extensions to both processors and chipsets, TXT canperform the following:
Protected Execution:This feature allows an application that has the ability to execute inan isolated environment, to be shielded from other software running onthe same platform. No other software may monitor or compromise the dataor the application in the protected environment. Plus, each applicationrunning in PE mode has its own physically dedicated resources from boththe processor and system chipset.
Sealed Storage:The new advanced TPM chips are able to store and encrypt keys inhardware. Only the same system that the TPM is integrated into candecrypt the keys. Any attempts at copying data out of the TPM willresult in scrambling.
Protected Input: Intel isdeveloping mechanisms that will prevent unauthorized monitoring ofhuman input devices such as mouse clicks and keyboard strokes. Not onlywill traditional input devices be encrypted, but data traversing theUSB bus will also be encrypted too.
Protected Graphics:applications that are running in the PE environment will have itsgraphics path encrypted. Data being sent to a graphics card's framebuffer from an application will be encrypted and cannot be observed byunauthorized code. For example, a particular notice box popping up canbe encrypted, while other windows remain unprotected.
Protected Launch:this part of TXT will control and protect critical parts of theoperating system and other system related components from beingcompromised during launch. OS kernel components for example areprotected during and after launch.
"Inte's R&D team" you missed the 'l' off
If you'll excuse me I have some funny joke exe files that someone forwarded me which I need to open.
If you'll excuse me I have some funny joke exe files that someone forwarded me which I need to open.
This is why there will always be viruses, because people are stupid. Every time you make something idiot proof, the world comes up with a better idiot. Windows sold out security to be both relatively easy, and widely used. If 90% of the world uses Windows, do you realise how many quasi-brain dead people are included in that tally? Apple is easy, and secure for the most part, but not widely used. It's easy to be secure when your company controls all the hardware and OS and a lot of the software. But then that will get you 4% market share. Notice now that Apple has switched to Intel and is gaining, it is having growing pains? *NIX is secure, but not even close to easy, and thus not widespread.
Because of the nature of people, you can't have all three - market share, security and ease of use. MS chose the way that would ensure it made the most money. Nothing much Intel can do but add a level of complexity. Might mean more security in theory, but the people with sense already know how to keep their machine secure. What of the people who don't even know how to change their wallpaper? To quote Ron White, "You can't fix stupid."
There is no need for an antivirus on a linux system. A virus cannot do any damage unless you give it the permission.
How simple is that? There is no need for hardware subsystems and all that crap, why cant people just design their software/operating systems better.
As far as damage goes, any app that gets executed with my (reduced privelege) user permissions. It won't take down my system, or infect outside my user area, but it can still cause problems.
Last time I checked *NIX machines were still some of the biggest targets for rootkits.
I would say *NIX gives you the ability to create a far more secure environment than Windows, and provides you with all the tools you need, but if you aren't a zen master, you are just as likely to set up an insecure Linux/BSD/etc box.
Do you really believe that??
Operating systems are code, and smart people can and always will find ways to defeat code-based security. Especially when all they really need to defeat are - *ahem* - digitally challenged individuals.
Hardware, on the other hand, can be made absolutely secure. To dismiss such solutions out-of-hand is at best.........weird.
You don't get many *nix viruses, not because of the OS, but the average *nix user is more of a geek and or nerd than the average mom/pop Windows user, and so know not to open random crap on the system.
Vista will be the same as *nix, but people will still be stupid enough to run funnscr.exe or whatever from an email, and then say to UAC yes it's trusted, here have my password.
DRM
You can tell how afraid they are of this by not even mentioning DRM as one of the advantages/target applications.
Ahem.
And I'm sure the government under Bush is just going to love the idea of not being able to use keyloggers, etc., on us. Or, am I naive in assuming that this whole thing won't have a backdoor for their "exclusive" (until the codes are leaked) use?
sry for being a grammer whatever...
'their'? 'hould'? 'sry'? 'grammer'?
'their'? 'hould'? 'sry'? 'grammer'?
wow, do i look even remotely bothered about my spelling or grammer, i dont give a toss, and i dont have to do anything, maybe you should just keep comments to yourself that have nothing to relate to this posting.
"Comment of the Week" material, there!
Post an error-filled complaint about the article's errors, then post that golden reply.
"Comment of the Week" material, there!
Post an error-filled complaint about the article's errors, then post that golden reply.
lol ya know
I'm switching this second!
I'll feel safe with Apple for once.
Oh btw, this is just an "excuse" to make the DRM something common. Remember that
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