Upgrading Hardware for Vista? Consider VPro
We've heard over and over again how Vista is the most secure Windows operating system, ever. We also know it still has vulnerabilities like any other OS so we need multiple defenses. In the past this has meant primarily software defenses, like anti-virus and firewalls. Since Intel introduced it's VPro line of technology, we can now get additional security measures in hardware. It looks like defenses in hardware will get better with a new generation of VPro technologies recently announced by Intel (Intel touts security with second-gen VPro PCs | CNET News.com)
The new line of VPro technologies adds several features according to CNet
First, it stores the digital fingerprints of software in a protected region called the trusted platform module; every time the software is run, it checks to make sure the software still matches that fingerprint to see that it hasn't been compromised. Second, it walls off an application's memory so that other applications, operating systems or hardware can't change it. And third, if an application crashes or is crashed, TXT scrubs its data from memory and chip caches so attack software can't snoop for residual data.
Another benefit in the next gen version is the ability to isolate a compromised device on the network:
Intel will build into the second version some basic abilities to detect suspicious network traffic so that potentially infected PCs can be isolated from corporate networks
These new features are branded as Trusted Execution Technology (TXT). This may sound familiar to users of the Trusted Computing Platform devices. The principals the same, leverage hardware to mitigate risks to operating system and applications. We need more security options, TXT provides it. If you need to upgrade to get Vista anyway, why not get the VPro and get that extra level of protection you are expecting from Vista.
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