Intel’s TDT (Threat Detection Technology) is Built-In Ransomware Protection announces at CES 2021, arguably the most influential and significant-tech event in the world. Intel’s TDT (Threat Detection Technology) is a historic eleventh generation of chips.
The latest designs will feature hardware-based ransomware detection protocols, which should make those types of attacks less likely to succeed.
In 2020, ransomware became the attack vector of choice for hackers around the world. It’s easy to see why. After all, it sets up a win-win for the hackers. First, it brings an infected network to its knees, disrupting commerce and communications. It was an outright end to many companies that were never able to recover from a successful attack.
Second, Threat Detection Technology gives the hackers plenty of time to slip into the breached network and exfiltrate any files they like. Typically, hackers go for the high-value stuff first, like a personally identifiable employee and customer information used in identity theft, payment card data, and the like. However, hackers’ interests are also often in proprietary company data that sold to rival firms. The stolen data represents a significant payday for the hackers.
What if no one pays the Ransomware?
Then, on top of that, the hackers demand a hefty ransom in exchange for the decryption keys, which ultimately gets the compromised network back on its feet. If the company refuses to pay, hackers are increasingly likely to publish some portion of the stolen data to embarrass the company in question, leading to further financial impacts.
Ransomware is an extremely attractive option from a hacker’s perspective— anything to make that kind of attack less likely to succeed a welcome addition indeed.
That’s where Intel’s TDT (Threat Detection Technology) comes into play. It creates an additional layer of security designed to shield a device from malicious code injections. How effective it will remain to be seen, but it’s an exciting development indeed. Kudos to Intel.
