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Transmeta Corp. said future microprocessors from the company will also support the “NX” security protocol due from Microsoft Corp. in Windows XP Service Pack 2.
NX, or “No Execute,” is the shorthand for the Execution Protection feature that Microsoft will include in XP SP2. The technology prevents buffer overflows, one of the most popular forms of attack on a software program.
Transmeta will join Intel Corp. and Advanced Micro Devices Inc. in supporting the NX technology. So far, only Via Technolgies Inc. has not announced support for the technology in future processors.
Transmeta is providing advance versions of systems based on its Efficeon microprocessor with “No Execute” support to Microsoft this month for internal testing.
“Transmetas unique software-based architecture can be rapidly extended to include new processor enhancements,” Transmeta CEO Matthew Perry said in a statement. “We were able to support Microsofts Execution Protection functionality without silicon changes, entirely within our Code Morphing Software—the proprietary software that provides complete X86 functionality on our efficient VLIW processor hardware. Our architectural flexibility and the time-to-market benefits it enables are unique advantages that Transmeta provides, offering leading edge features to consumers and corporate customers more rapidly.”