National Semiconductor to add security to PCs

Chip maker National Semiconductor Inc. is rolling out hardware devices designed to make desktop and laptop PCs more secure.

The Santa Clara, Calif., company on Thursday introduced its SafeKeeper Trusted I/O products that enable users to store a computer's identity on a piece of silicon, rather than relying on software to protect it.

Putting the data in the system's hardware makes it more difficult for hackers to access, according to National Semiconductor.

The devices integrate with a Trusted Platform Module, or TPM, which securely stores such data as passwords and digital certificates. The SafeKeeper Trusted I/O devices integrate TPMs with Super I/O and firmware to protect features such as operating systems, applications and BIOS, the company said

More info at eWeek