Intel's new vPro processors toughen up your system

According to Intel, your computer-security fears will be a thing of the distant past thanks to its latest vPro technology update. Apparently, the new safe-guarding apparatus is a combination of the company's Core 2 Duo processors and the Q35 Express chipset, in addition to several "technology innovations" that the chipmaker says will fortify business-centric systems against "software-based attacks," as well as viruses and the ominously vague "other threats." New components of the technology include Intel's Trusted Execution Technology (TXT, AKA LaGrande), which isolates assigned memory and protects it from access via unauthorized software, and improved system defense filters, which can identify a larger number of threats in network traffic. "Today, the business desktop PC just got more secure," says a company spokesperson, though for our system "protection" we're sticking to NoDoz and nunchucks.

[711 @ Aug 27th 2007 10:44AM]

Coming next month - the Intel LaForge visual interface.

[John @ Aug 27th 2007 10:58AM]

I could've sworn Intel was trying to 'simplify' its product ranges...

[Xzavier @ Aug 27th 2007 11:17AM]

Hum... I'm starting to have some flashback of the ole Pentium III processor with all that security and stuff!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pentium_III#Controversy_about_privacy_issue

I love the statement in the 2nd paragraph.
"--such as the ability to wake and repair a computer with an inoperative operating system or hard drive."
Yea right! Intel might do its best in *attempting* to make IT's job easier. However lack of proper training for users working on computers, proprietary software and very strange letters and numbers on BSOD says otherwise!

"Today, the business desktop PC just got more secure, said Robert B. Crooke"
--um... well, if you say so?

[ethana2 @ Aug 27th 2007 1:54PM]

I know what I'm doing to regain my security. Doesn't cost me a cent.
The main barrier to switching in my experience is not trying it out in the first place. Hey, if you don't like it yet, come back next year. Progress is fast in our world. None of this "Um, let's make it look pretty, change its name, and charge $500 for it." (I switched to Linux by the way, in case you didn't catch that.)

[e-mail] -- In case you have any questions or need any help. You know, my usual offer.

[Eric M. @ Aug 27th 2007 12:02PM]

My desktop work computer was just updated and it has the vPro sticker and although is replacing a P4, I really don't feel the benefit of the Core 2 Duo processor. This could be just the fact that I don't do anything really processor heavy at work, but my DV9500t at home with a Core 2 Duo 2.2 Ghz is blazing fast, so good job Intel =)

[Loonie @ Aug 27th 2007 12:03PM]

We're just so very safe these days. Man, I just don't know how much more safe I can feel.

[Brian @ Aug 27th 2007 12:10PM]

saying "its more secure" is just begging to be hacked faster.

[HyperHacker @ Aug 27th 2007 2:25PM]

The Wii is more secure.

[NunBarry @ Aug 27th 2007 12:28PM]

Before Chuck Norris was born, the martial arts weapons with two pieces of wood connected by a chain were called NunBarrys. No one ever did find out what happened to Barry.

[Karl Viklund @ Aug 27th 2007 12:31PM]

Buy AMD instead.

[melvz @ Aug 27th 2007 1:19PM]

wow!!! where is the product then? are they planning similarly featured product?!? are they gonna roll it out soon?



I forgot they're only good at planning these days... or it just gonna be delayed for about 6 months to a year...

[Wwhat @ Aug 27th 2007 2:55PM]

Planning? they invented and rolled out the NX-bit years ago I think you'll find.

[JCD @ Aug 27th 2007 12:50PM]

I fail to see how you can secure a programmable chip from running undesired code. I mean, if Office can execute code on the chip, what's stopping BO from running on it?

The only way to secure the chip is to go with a closed system like video game consoles. Then everyone who ever writes a program will have to send it to Intel or MS before it can be executed! Yay!

[ethana2 @ Aug 27th 2007 1:56PM]

I find my life easier having boycotted all products mentioned in your post ;)

[mikey @ Aug 27th 2007 1:44PM]

bullshit.

[duncdigital @ Aug 27th 2007 2:00PM]

This Christopher Guest piece is about that. www.itgetseasier.com.

[HyperHacker @ Aug 27th 2007 2:27PM]

"...Intel's Trusted Execution Technology (TXT, AKA LaGrande), which isolates assigned memory and protects it from access via unauthorized software"
So just what is "unauthorized software"? Somehow, I get the feeling it's going to be "software signed by Microsoft and/or Intel for a fee".
This is an interesting feature, it could end up actually being used for security, or it could just end up being used for DRM. I look forward to seeing which.

[Matt @ Aug 27th 2007 2:47PM]

So, are we finally seeing Palladium? Will we be able to say what's trusted or not, or will that be left up to Intel, Microsoft, and the media industry?

[Mr Funk @ Aug 27th 2007 7:56PM]

I'm sure this is only going to be used to secure "your" media against you, the paying customer.

[tekdroid @ Aug 28th 2007 8:43AM]

i always thought increased security came from not using Microsoft apps, particularly Internet Explorer and Outlook.

[Josh L. @ Aug 30th 2007 10:06PM]

I think they mean programs that aren't the parent, or maybe not running in admin mode(for vista) for there must be thousands of software only solution, and I don't really get how it could know all this without some type of software counterpart, which, for all we know, could be hacked. However, it might make it harder for some hackers, I think it's one more unnecesarry software feature tacked onto the hardware.

Anyway, is this what they meant when they said they were coming up with a way to stop cheating in multiplayer games only using hardware?