The Microsoft Pluton processor is designed to improve the ability to repel physical attacks; and prevent the theft of credentials and encryption keys, provide hardware and software control and system integrity checks; and simplify the cloud-based firmware update process (via Windows Update). This chip-to-cloud protection technology was pioneered on Xbox and Azure Sphere.
Microsoft explains:
“This revolutionary security processor design will make it much more difficult for attackers to hide under the operating system; and improve our ability to protect against physical attacks, prevent theft of credentials and encryption keys; and provide the ability to recover from software errors ”.
The Pluton security processor will appear in future solutions from AMD, Intel and Qualcomm to protect credentials, user IDs, encryption keys and personal data. Additionally, Microsoft promises that your information will be safe with Pluton. This, even if an attacker installs malware or gains complete physical control over the computer.
“With the effectiveness of Pluto’s initial design, we have learned a lot about how to use hardware to mitigate a variety of physical attacks. Now, we offer a chip-to-cloud security vision to bring even more security innovation to the future of Windows PCs.”
“With Pluton, our vision is to provide a more secure foundation for the smart edge and smart cloud by extending this level of built-in trust to devices and things everywhere.”