Skip to main content

Microsoft just made hardware encryption part of Windows 10’s minimum requirements

Microsoft has added a Trusted Platform Module 2.0 (TPM) chip to the list of things computers need in order to run Windows 10 — meaning hardware encryption is now a requirement for Windows 10 systems.

A TPM is a dedicated chip or firmware feature on modern motherboards entirely dedicated to encryption. This allow users to encrypt with much smaller keypasses than are otherwise possible; the chip is also used by Windows Hello to protect biometric information.

Recommended Videos

Windows Hello, for the unfamilar, is an increasingly common feature on recent Windows 10 devices. It uses a fingerprint scanner, or a webcam, to verify your identity and automatically log you into your computer. It’s a lot faster than typing your password. Just look at the camera, or swipe your fingers across the scanner, and you’re in.

But there’s a potential problem. Storing such information on your computer is, in and of itself, a security risk. Without dedicated encryption hardware, such data is processed in the RAM, a common vector for exploits. So while a TPM isn’t required for Windows Hello to function, it is when it comes to locking down that biometric data. Dedicated hardware for encryption is a lot harder to hack than software solutions.

This is likely no small part of why Microsoft is making this change. The company wants to eliminate the password entirely, and is hoping that Windows Hello could in the future be used for more than just logging into Windows, and do things like verify online purchases. Building hardware encryption into every Windows device will help with that goal.

It also helps users who want to encrypt their entire hard drive. Bitlocker, Microsoft’s whole-disk encryption tool, requires TPM in order to function, barring a few hacks that are hard to recommend.

Computers shipping with dedicated encryption hardware is good news even if you don’t plan on using Windows Hello, so we’re glad Microsoft is forcing OEMs’ hands on this one.

Justin Pot
Justin's always had a passion for trying out new software, asking questions, and explaining things – tech journalism is the…
Windows 10’s October 2020 update is more than the sum of its parts
microsoft surface laptop go review desktop

Introducing the Windows 10 October 2020 Update

Keeping to Microsoft's twice-a-year Windows 10 feature update schedule, the next version of Windows has arrived for download.

Read more
Wimbledon’s robot line judges caught napping on Centre Court
wimbledon

Following in the footsteps of the U.S. Open and the Australian Open, Wimbledon finally did away with human line judges in favor of Hawk-Eye technology at this year's Championships.

All 18 courts have incorporated the system, which uses multiple high‑speed cameras and real‑time computer vision algorithms, with loudspeakers emitting an audible “out” to confirm a missed shot.

Read more
This Dyson doesn’t suck … it grows
Dyson's Hybrid Vertical Growing System.

While it's best known for vacuums and other household appliances, Dyson has also established itself in the world of farming, with a team of engineers coming up with tech-based solutions to improve efficiency and boost production.

A video (top) shared recently by the British company features a remarkable -- and remarkably huge -- Hybrid Vertical Growing System, located inside a greenhouse.

Read more