HP to ship new PCs with self-healing BIOS
One of the wonders of the human body is that it heals itself. The damage might be self-inflicted, like an accidental fall, or it could be caused by an attacker. Either way, the human body is tremendously adept at repairing cuts, scrapes, bruises, and other ailments. HP is taking that same concept and applying it to the PC's Basic Input/Output System, otherwise known as the BIOS.
It's called BIOSphere with SureStart technology, and according to HP, it's the industry's first and only self-healing security solution created to help organizations better mange risk and protect user and IT productivity. Developed with HP Labs, the self-healing BIOS can return to a previously safe state if attacked by malware or otherwise corrupted, such as by a failed BIOS update.
Protecting today’s computers against sophisticated malware requires more than just an up-to-date antivirus app. HP is ramping up protection on its PCs by integrating self-healing BIOS chips that will be able to fend off firmware-level infections.
Gigabyte, too, has been doing this for nearly a decade. Dual BIOS was designed more as a way for hardcore PC enthusiasts to recover from failed firmware updates or overclocking mishaps.
A secondary BIOS chip provides an easy way to get things back to normal and today that even includes repairing damage from a firmware infection. And just like HPs new tech, Gigabyte’s Dual BIOS setup can heal itself silently in the background.
So why has one of the world’s top PC manufacturers decided to introduce self-healing BIOS now?
HP has added the HP SureStart solution to its multilayered HP Client Security solutions portfolio to provide customers with an even stronger security protocol that defends against unauthorized system access.
With HP SureStart, customers no longer need to worry about the safety of their PC BIOS updates. Security and reliability improvements are delivered straight to the customer, via the web or customer’s internal web site. This out-of-the-box solution is based on the HP BIOSphere, HP’s industry-leading firmware ecosystem that includes the HP BIOS and a secure embedded controller. The HP BIOSphere enables both HP’s Client Security and Client Management Solution offerings by automating the protection of data as well as robust configurability and manageability for HP business PCs.
HP SureStart technology provides the ultimate protection against malware attacks of the PC BIOS, preventing user downtime and IT support requests. When combined with HP BIOS Protection,(2) the solution detects, prevents, reports and allows auto recovery of advanced persistent threats (APTs).
Initially HP will roll out its SureStart technology globally on its EliteBoks beginning this fall.
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It's called BIOSphere with SureStart technology, and according to HP, it's the industry's first and only self-healing security solution created to help organizations better mange risk and protect user and IT productivity. Developed with HP Labs, the self-healing BIOS can return to a previously safe state if attacked by malware or otherwise corrupted, such as by a failed BIOS update.
Protecting today’s computers against sophisticated malware requires more than just an up-to-date antivirus app. HP is ramping up protection on its PCs by integrating self-healing BIOS chips that will be able to fend off firmware-level infections.
The process is simple enough. At boot time, the active BIOS is checked against a pristine BIOS image (presumably read-only) that’s securely stored on a machine. If there’s a discrepancy, the system assumes tampering has taken place and the questionable BIOS is overwritten. Any malware that tried to go resident in the BIOS is wiped out, without any intervention by users. HP’s self-healing systems simply shrug off the infection and restart as they normally would.HP and Google has built similar functionality into Chrome OS. Chromebooks and Chrometops can, however, heal the entire OS if something nefarious is detected at startup not just the BIOS.
Gigabyte, too, has been doing this for nearly a decade. Dual BIOS was designed more as a way for hardcore PC enthusiasts to recover from failed firmware updates or overclocking mishaps.
A secondary BIOS chip provides an easy way to get things back to normal and today that even includes repairing damage from a firmware infection. And just like HPs new tech, Gigabyte’s Dual BIOS setup can heal itself silently in the background.
So why has one of the world’s top PC manufacturers decided to introduce self-healing BIOS now?
HP’s Michael Park says that Microsoft has made Windows much more secure, but that “there’s a lot of malware will come in under the OS and take over the underlying BIOS.”
“A lot” is an exaggeration. Malware that targets a system’s BIOS does exist, but it’s not very common. The bad guys never stop looking for ways to exploit a system, however, and BIOS is a very juicy target.HP BIOSphere with SureStart technology, a self-healing security solution created to help organizations better manage risk and protect user and IT productivity.
HP has added the HP SureStart solution to its multilayered HP Client Security solutions portfolio to provide customers with an even stronger security protocol that defends against unauthorized system access.
“The security landscape has become more complex as threats become more sophisticated and employees require device flexibility to coincide with their changing working environment,” said Lorri Jefferson, director, Tablets and Software Strategy, HP. “These breakthrough security offerings are simple, seamless solutions that address these converging trends by delivering enterprise customers the ultimate fighting mechanism for mitigating risk, threats and negative business outcomes.”HP BIOSphere with SureStart technology is the first solution of its kind to enable virtually uninterrupted productivity for enterprise users by preventing corruption and providing self-healing from malware or unlikely failed PC BIOS updates. Regardless of reason— intentional malicious attack, unknown cause, a failed update or other accidental cause—HP SureStart recovers the PC BIOS for continued user productivity and reduced IT help desk requests.
With HP SureStart, customers no longer need to worry about the safety of their PC BIOS updates. Security and reliability improvements are delivered straight to the customer, via the web or customer’s internal web site. This out-of-the-box solution is based on the HP BIOSphere, HP’s industry-leading firmware ecosystem that includes the HP BIOS and a secure embedded controller. The HP BIOSphere enables both HP’s Client Security and Client Management Solution offerings by automating the protection of data as well as robust configurability and manageability for HP business PCs.
HP SureStart technology provides the ultimate protection against malware attacks of the PC BIOS, preventing user downtime and IT support requests. When combined with HP BIOS Protection,(2) the solution detects, prevents, reports and allows auto recovery of advanced persistent threats (APTs).
Initially HP will roll out its SureStart technology globally on its EliteBoks beginning this fall.
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