9621 Agnes Crossing, Lake Suzanneview, New Mexico Island 84604-9295.
Whether a hacker is on the other side of the world or has physically stolen your laptop, ideally the criminal can’t do anything with it. HP ensures this
Whether a hacker is on the other side of the world or has physically stolen your laptop, ideally the criminal can’t do anything with it. HP ensures this with its own chip, which even makes devices resistant to attacks on the supply chain.
A laptop must be resilient. Whether criminals are at the keyboard or on the other side of the world, access shouldn’t be enough to reveal all secrets. A computer’s protection is partly provided by software such as the built-in virus protection of Windows 11 or the already mentioned secure identity verification.
Nevertheless, misuse or a successful attack can never be completely ruled out. So you need a way to verify that the device you’re working with is still completely secure. Didn’t a hacker install malware in the background? Maybe a rootkit is running? Or who knows, criminals have even struck in the supply chain.
As a manufacturer, HP sees an important role in ensuring the security and reliability of the devices. That’s why under the hood of a professional HP laptop is an HP Wolf Security Chip. You can think of this chip as your device’s ever-vigilant bodyguard.
First and foremost, the chip powers HP Sure Start. This is a feature that is part of the broader HP Wolf security suite. The Wolf Security Chip is the first component activated when the PC is switched on. The chip then checks and validates all other code that is running, including the BIOS firmware. If someone has messed with the BIOS, the chip has access to an isolated and untouchable copy of the original code, which will be replaced in less than a minute.
Even when the computer is running, Sure Start and the chip remain active in the background. They constantly monitor the BIOS code residing in memory, so no rarities are possible at this stage either.
Then what about the thief who has a laptop and a screwdriver handy? According to HP, it can’t do much damage either. In the BIOS settings you can TamperLock switch. The notebook then switches off immediately as soon as the back is opened. TamperLock also works when the device is switched off.
When the feature is enabled, the laptop becomes virtually unusable. TamperLock ensures that the operating system does not boot again until you have successfully logged into the BIOS. As we have already seen, this BIOS is protected by Sure Start, so a criminal cannot reset the device. If desired, an administrator can also specify that the TPM be completely erased if TamperLock detects tampering.
Then there is HP Wolf Protect and Trace. This feature comes in handy when a device is lost or stolen, and complements TamperLock a bit. Protect and Trace has several capabilities.
First of all, the tool helps in locating lost laptops. think of Find my device at android. Of course, to find a device, you need to be connected to a network. This can be WiFi, but also the mobile network with compatible devices. The feature is very relevant because, according to HP, eight to even twelve percent of all laptops are lost during their lifetime. As hybrid working becomes the norm, this number is unlikely to decrease.
If the laptop falls into the wrong hands, an administrator can remotely lock and wipe it. The built-in security chip ensures that a thief cannot simply bypass this command.
When HP launches its G10 devices in September, they will be equipped with Wolf Connect. Wolf Connect ensures that a laptop can always be located via a SIM card in the device. Remote management is also possible, even if a device is switched off. In theory, for example, an administrator could roll out an update to the laptop of a telecommuter who turned off his device at night.
HP still takes advantage of ways to protect laptops during manufacture and in transit. The devices are completely digitally nailed, so an attacker cannot intrude into the supply chain to tinker with the laptop there.
The above features are part of HP Wolf Security. Some features like Sure Start and TamperLock come standard with most HP business models. Protect and Trace works on models from the 400 series.
This article is part of it series on HP’s role in laptop security. The editorial was created in cooperation with HP.
Source: IT Daily
As an experienced journalist and author, Mary has been reporting on the latest news and trends for over 5 years. With a passion for uncovering the stories behind the headlines, Mary has earned a reputation as a trusted voice in the world of journalism. Her writing style is insightful, engaging and thought-provoking, as she takes a deep dive into the most pressing issues of our time.
