McAfee Cautions of Hardware Assaults on Windows 8 Computers

McAfee the security company, which has published its 2012 threat forecasts, states that the security mechanisms incorporated into Microsoft's Windows 8 operating system will help in preventing assaults against the OS, as a result, hackers will be forced to develop malicious software that will straight aim at the hardware.

Essentially, the development of the bootloader security within Windows 8 utilizes BIOS the legacy protocol for warding off hacks, researchers have demonstrated, says McAfee. However, as the integrated widespread interface of firmware has been developed, attackers will have to create fresh malware for getting around this security feature.

Taking cue from this progress, Intel too has embarked on designing one unified firmware interface that'll put security booting to task. Naturally, hackers will be prompted for creating malware, which will tackle these fresh protection measures because of the Windows 8 security mechanisms.

A key explanation for this forecast revolves around enhanced Windows 8 operating system with the safeguards for security continuing on it, consequently, making McAfee anticipate that the hackers' assaults will specifically target hardware rather than attempt at exploiting security vulnerabilities within the OS.

The security company's forecasts in addition revolve around the notion wherein attackers are expected to utilize particular utilities for affecting the BIOS, graphics processor utilities as well as MBRs (master boot records). It may be interesting to note that while anti-virus firms act seriously towards stopping these assaults, hackers apparently realize that attacking loopholes in hardware is worthier, given the new features of Windows 8 operating system. Besides, attackers have fast made their threats compatible with changes to have as varied as a comfortable access of an end-user's personal computer to being capable of intercepting a victim's online banking session.

In the meantime, McAfee as well forecasted that hackers will keep on getting attracted to assaults targeted against mobile devices. The reason being, smart phones, which people frequently utilize for operations such as transactions related to finance, aid in making them extremely attractive amongst hackers. Accordingly, just like criminals managed in infiltrating banking software running on computers, so also will they for similar software within mobile devices, McAfee reports.

Related article: McAfee Alerts Windows about Accessibility Hole in Vista

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