14 DAY TRIAL // Computer systems' security is a very hot topic, as there is a permanent battle between those seeking unauthorized access to confidential data and information and those employed to protect and keep this data and info secure. Well, now Intel decided to enter this battle and launch a line of processors, the vPro series, that implements a number of security technologies at the hardware level.
The vPro line is aimed at business consumers and it is formed by a collection of Core 2 Duo processors, chipsets and other computer hardware parts that are banded together in order to form what is called by the computer manufacturers a platform, just like the Centrino or the Santa Rosa. Unlike those two computing platforms, the vPro is not aimed at end users but at business computers and enterprises as it integrates the Intel Trusted Execution Technology (TXT for short) technology that is hardcoded into the platform. TXT relies heavily on virtualization in order to perform its tasks as it has to practically isolate applications from each other and also the safe removal of all the data related to an application when it is no longer needed.
According to the news site theregister, Intel executive Robert Crooke said that unlike most security suites that run at the operating system level or above and thus leave the computer vulnerable to attacks occurring at a lower level, the vPro platform integrates very low level policies that are aimed at securing the computer below the OS level. Apart from the TXT, vPro will also integrate the Active Management Technology (AMT for short) that is an engine designed to help manage, diagnose and repair computer systems even when the PC is turned off or when it suffered an OS crash.
The latest vPro package is being shipped with components like Intel's Core 2 Duo processors and Q35 Express chipsets, that are both the latest models released by the manufacturing company and can be used on both desktop and mobile computer platforms. A number of system manufactures like Dell and HP will also integrate the vPro platform in their laptops and desktops.