Close
  • Latest News
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
Read Down
Sign in
Close
Welcome!Log into your account
Forgot your password?
Read Down
Password recovery
Recover your password
Close
Search
Logo
Logo
  • Latest News
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
More
    Home Cybersecurity
    • Cybersecurity
    • Mobile
    • Networking
    • PC Hardware

    Intel’s McAfee Acquisition Means Chip-Level Security

    By
    Eric Lundquist
    -
    August 19, 2010
    Share
    Facebook
    Twitter
    Linkedin

      Recently, I noticed my 17-year-old son working even more intently than usual on his laptop.

      A new version of World of Warcraft? No, his Microsoft Windows 7 laptop had picked up a particularly nasty virus. He’s better than I am at finding and eliminating bad bugs, but this one was well hidden.

      Eventually, after a couple of hours he worked his way through a number of suspect Windows registry settings, found the virus and deleted the bad and reset his registry. This was a hassle to him and I told him that very few users are aware of the Windows registry, let alone willing to fiddle around with the settings.

      And that is why Intel spending $7.68 billion to buy security firm McAfee is a good deal.

      Intel has the money and is keenly aware that it needs to move more and more of the fundamentals of computing into the hardware. The current distinction where Intel, or Advanced Micro Devices, or any of the other chip makers provide a platform while the software builders do all the interesting and vital functions is not a winning brand strategy.

      Intel is aware of this.

      In announcing the McAfee acquisition, Intel’s press release stated, “With the rapid expansion of growth across a vast array of Internet-connected devices, more and more of the elements of our lives have moved online,” said Intel CEO and President Paul Otellini.

      “In the past, energy-efficient performance and connectivity have defined computing requirements. Looking forward, security will join those as a third pillar of what people demand from all computing experiences,” Otellini added.

      OK, press release breathlessness aside, making security the third pillar of why the chip matters is a sensible approach.

      Energy efficiency, connectivity and now security integrated into the chip level will indeed make it tougher for the bad guys to do their work.

      Security designers will have a much bigger toolkit to wall off certain functions, allow changes to be made only after assuring identity and generally making the digital playground a safer place to play. This gets particularly important as more and more devices get connected into the Web.

      Intel is clearly the big guy on the block in the server and client world, but less so in the emerging markets of smartphones, smart devices and game boxes. Those products need security also.

      The acquisition also makes the vendor landscape much more interesting.

      Microsoft has been trying to pull more and more security features into the operating system.

      Cloud computing is still more talk than action as cloud vendors struggle to define when and where security and privacy rules should be put in place and enforced. And all that mobile Internet discussion tends to avoid the security issue at present.

      Chip-level security can be very effective, but has to balance security needs with the flexibility of incorporating new operating system updates and application development.

      Over the last couple years, the bad guys have been getting smarter and in many cases winning the security race; putting the locks in the chips could help reverse those wins.

      Eric Lundquist
      Since 1996, Eric Lundquist has been Editor in Chief of eWEEK, which includes domestic, international and online editions. As eWEEK's EIC, Lundquist oversees a staff of nearly 40 editors, reporters and Labs analysts covering product, services and companies in the high-technology community. He is a frequent speaker at industry gatherings and user events and sits on numerous advisory boards. Eric writes the popular weekly column, 'Up Front,' and he is a confidant of eWEEK's Spencer F. Katt gossip columnist.

      MOST POPULAR ARTICLES

      Big Data and Analytics

      Alteryx’s Suresh Vittal on the Democratization of...

      James Maguire - May 31, 2022 0
      I spoke with Suresh Vittal, Chief Product Officer at Alteryx, about the industry mega-shift toward making data analytics tools accessible to a company’s complete...
      Read more
      Cybersecurity

      Visa’s Michael Jabbara on Cybersecurity and Digital...

      James Maguire - May 17, 2022 0
      I spoke with Michael Jabbara, VP and Global Head of Fraud Services at Visa, about the cybersecurity technology used to ensure the safe transfer...
      Read more
      Applications

      Cisco’s Thimaya Subaiya on Customer Experience in...

      James Maguire - May 10, 2022 0
      I spoke with Thimaya Subaiya, SVP and GM of Global Customer Experience at Cisco, about the factors that create good customer experience – and...
      Read more
      Big Data and Analytics

      GoodData CEO Roman Stanek on Business Intelligence...

      James Maguire - May 4, 2022 0
      I spoke with Roman Stanek, CEO of GoodData, about business intelligence, data as a service, and the frustration that many executives have with data...
      Read more
      Cloud

      Yotascale CEO Asim Razzaq on Controlling Multicloud...

      James Maguire - May 5, 2022 0
      Asim Razzaq, CEO of Yotascale, provides guidance on understanding—and containing—the complex cost structure of multicloud computing. Among the topics we covered:  As you survey the...
      Read more
      Logo

      eWeek has the latest technology news and analysis, buying guides, and product reviews for IT professionals and technology buyers. The site’s focus is on innovative solutions and covering in-depth technical content. eWeek stays on the cutting edge of technology news and IT trends through interviews and expert analysis. Gain insight from top innovators and thought leaders in the fields of IT, business, enterprise software, startups, and more.

      Facebook
      Linkedin
      RSS
      Twitter
      Youtube

      Advertisers

      Advertise with TechnologyAdvice on eWeek and our other IT-focused platforms.

      Advertise with Us

      Menu

      • About eWeek
      • Subscribe to our Newsletter
      • Latest News

      Our Brands

      • Privacy Policy
      • Terms
      • About
      • Contact
      • Advertise
      • Sitemap
      • California – Do Not Sell My Information

      Property of TechnologyAdvice.
      © 2022 TechnologyAdvice. All Rights Reserved

      Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the products that appear on this site are from companies from which TechnologyAdvice receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site including, for example, the order in which they appear. TechnologyAdvice does not include all companies or all types of products available in the marketplace.

      ×