Hm. I see this as a play for DRM locking things across the stack. Deep scan and data analysis software would be ripe for implementing this. Maybe I'm just paranoid.
Bringing security down to the hardware level only means you'll be enabling virus-access to the hardware level because hardware will never keep up with software.
"Bringing security down to the hardware level only means you'll be enabling virus-access to the hardware level"
How does that follow? We've had "security" at the hardware level for years. The hardware is as accessible as it'll ever be -- it's only going to get more locked down from here.
Fixing security vulnerabilities in every piece of software ever written (or to be written) seems like a hell of a lot more work than hardening the processor. Non-executable memory, for example, eliminates a whole class of vulnerabilities in which illicitly added code is run from the stack or heap.
To suggest that further work on the processor security model is a waste because people ought to have done it right the first time is blind to the fact that people will screw up no matter what.
Perhaps Intel plans on giving the Mcafee virus scanner away for free. The resulting bogged down and slow computers would lead to increased demand for more powerful Intel CPUs.
Long shot, but has it got anything to do with real estate? Intel and McAfee HQs are located within a mile of each other...
again, its a crazy angle, just putting it out there.
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[ 4.5 ms ] story [ 53.4 ms ] threadCan someone explain any drop of rationale Intel might have for doing this? I am coming up empty.
How does that follow? We've had "security" at the hardware level for years. The hardware is as accessible as it'll ever be -- it's only going to get more locked down from here.
Or, better yet, spend that money to educate users and administrators alike on how to protect themselves.
To suggest that further work on the processor security model is a waste because people ought to have done it right the first time is blind to the fact that people will screw up no matter what.
/sarcasm
Minion [2 hours later]: OK, Done.