Intel Unveils Skylake vPro CPUs With Triple-Hardened 'Intel Authenticate' Security

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By Michael Justin Allen Sexton
published

Intel announced that its 6th Gen (Skylake) Core vPro processors are now available for purchase. With Skylake, Intel opted to introduce a new security technology called Intel Authenticate to increase the amount of protection provided by vPro processors.

The Intel Authenticate software is still in development, but users are now able able to preview and test the software themselves. The software uses multiple authentication factors in order to determine who is accessing the system and ensure it is the correct person. The system supports up to three hardened factors that can consist of an item you have such as a smartphone or ring, a physical feature such as a retinal scan or fingerprint, or something you need to remember such as a password.

If the software is configured to use three identification factors, then just entering your password or scanning your fingerprint won’t be enough to grant you access to the system. This software uses the vPro hardware in order to enhance the accuracy of these authentication factors, and it is not supported on non-vPro processors. Intel Authenticate is compatible with Windows 7, 8, 8.1 and 10.

Systems using the Skylake vPro processors are now available from several OEMs including Acer, Asus, Dell, Fujitsu, HP, Lenovo, Panasonic and Toshiba.

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Michael Justin Allen Sexton
Michael Justin Allen Sexton is a Contributing Writer for Tom's Hardware US. He covers hardware component news, specializing in CPUs and motherboards.
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19 Comments Comment from the forums
  • targetdrone
    Sounds like another control factor Intel and Microsoft wants over consumers.

    I need to buy more tinfoil
    Reply
  • JobCreator
    A step in the right direction.
    Reply
  • Fates_Demise
    Sounds like another control factor Intel and Microsoft wants over consumers.

    I need to buy more tinfoil

    Explain to me how giving you the option for more security on your own side is them taking control?
    Reply
  • knowom
    most people would never need this, but for the people that actually do I'm sure it's really nice to have
    Reply
  • dt9999
    I wonder if they'll be easier to find than the Skylake i7 6700K! They've been out for a while, but their availability is spotty at best. Guess all the OEM's (Dell, HP, etc.) are grabbing them up.
    Reply
  • turkey3_scratch
    17351150 said:
    Sounds like another control factor Intel and Microsoft wants over consumers.

    I need to buy more tinfoil

    You just love racing to be the first poster, don't you?

    @IInuyasha74: I'm sure you can tell me, but what does a processor have to do with security? Wouldn't it be the software that runs on the computer and is executed by the processor that affects security?
    Reply
  • littleleo
    Sounds like another control factor Intel and Microsoft wants over consumers.

    I need to buy more tinfoil

    Don't forget the May-O
    Reply
  • atwspoon
    Sounds like another control factor Intel and Microsoft wants over consumers.

    I need to buy more tinfoil

    This is turning into the old gotfrag.com forum >.< trolls everywhere
    Reply
  • Darkbreeze
    Intel Authenticate is compatible with Windows 7, 8, 8.1 and 10.

    Somebody needs to inform Intel that Microsoft has indicated they won't be supporting future processors on platforms older than Windows 10 OR Skylake after 18 months. :)
    Reply
  • DavidGX_
    No way in hell this isn't backdoored by the NSA. No thanks.
    Reply