These researchers are modifying CPUs to detect security threats

A group of researchers has won a grant to research and develop a modified CPU that can help detect malware and other security anomalies.

The two collaborating teams, at Binghamton University and the University of California-Riverside, believe that a hardware solution is necessary to help mitigate security threats instead of relying entirely on software. The project has been dubbed the “Practical Hardware-Assisted Always-On Malware Detection” and the three-year grant of $275,000 was awarded by the National Science Foundation.

Typically we rely on anti-virus or anti-malware software to scan and detect threats on our computers. The researchers say that they will investigate ways of modifying a computer’s central processing unit that will involve adding “logic” to spot anomalies while running programs. They envision the hardware solution as a “lookout,” which will complement the work of software.