Is Windows 11 operating system making news headlines for the way it looks and the features it brings? No, there’s more to the story than meets the eye. The compulsion of the Trusted Platform Module (TPM) chip in every system what is creating a commotion. But what is this TPM? Don’t our systems already have it?
To understand this in detail and to know why the company is forcing everyone to use TPM chips, you’ll need to keep on reading.
What is a TPM?
In simple terms, TPM is a tiny chip on a PC’s motherboard. It provides hardware-level protection (boot-up protection) and is created by The Trusted Computing Group (TCG).
Sometimes isolated from the main CPU and memory, this chip works like the authenticator on your phone, or keypad used to disable home security alarms. Thereby making getting into the system without proper authorization a bit complicated.
Basically, in this scenario, it means when you shut down the newer PC that uses full-disk encryption and a TPM chip, this tiny little chip will deliver a unique code called a cryptographic key, which will be used at boot time, meaning, when you restart the system and no discrepancies are found during system startup, the drive will be unlocked allowing the user to access PC. But if an issue with the key is detected, the PC won’t boot.
In short, TPM chips will add an extra layer of protection. But do these chips or TPM processes work only for Windows 11 or are there other apps that use TPM?
Fact Check – At the time of writing, there are more than 1.3 billion Windows 10 machines in use. Therefore, to keep users protected Microsoft has been warning users that have been ignored. Hence, to protect users it is trying to take proactive measures like TPM chip enforcement.
Other Apps That Use TPM
To perform certain advanced functions like maintaining SSL certificates, email clients – Thunderbird, Outlook, and browsers – Firefox, & Chrome use TPM after system boots. Besides being used in PCs, TPM is also used in printers, connected home accessories, etc.
Alongside this TPM can take many different forms like:
- TPM can be integrated into the main CPU (as a physical component or as a code that runs on a dedicated environment.)
- TPMs can be virtual as they run completely in software. The only thing to keep in mind when using virtual TPM is to ensure your system is protected. For this, you can try using Systweak Antivirus.
Why Microsoft is forcing users to get TPM
No clear answer to this has been given. However, it seems Microsoft is doing this to prevent dictionary attacks against passwords. Though Microsoft has asked OEMs to ship devices with TPM chips support since Windows 10, the company didn’t force it on users as it did in Windows 11. This is what is bothering people and creating confusion. Earlier these chips were only used by IT-managed business machines. To bring the same level of protection Microsoft is doing.
If that is the case, then why did Microsoft say Windows 11 will give users the control to decide how they want things to be? And now they are forcing users to use TPM chips. Why this contradiction?
Is it to compete with Apple in terms of security? Or is there something else going on under the hood?
Well, the answer to this is awaited. It seems when Windows 11 will be finally released only then we will get to know.
But this doesn’t mean we will stop looking. We found that for months Microsoft has been warning about firmware attacks that can turn out to be dangerous. To deal with them and to decrease the number of attacks targeting Windows, this is done. But this is not the only reason, there are other explanations too and we will research more on it to come up with concrete answers. If you are keen and interested to know about it, bookmark this page to stay updated.
Is there a way to check if the device has a TPM chip?
We just made updates to the Windows 11 PC Health Check App. It now provides more detailed info on requirements not met. This should help in cases where folks assumed CPU compat issues were TPM related https://t.co/hTWMe16DWO pic.twitter.com/eZLTZMOdjT
— David Weston (DWIZZZLE) (@dwizzzleMSFT) June 25, 2021
Microsoft introduced the health checking app for this purpose, but it seems to be amiss. Therefore, the only way you are left with is to visit Microsoft’s site and check the list of compatible CPUs.
If your system’s processor is older than an 8th Gen Intel chip, then it is not supported.
WINDOWS 11 why TPM Chips: VERDICT
The answer to this is simple, Microsoft wants Windows 11 security of Windows 11 security to be on par with macOS. Due to this, the company is forcing people to use the TPM chips. However, the way things are put across and communicated is just not doing any good.
What do you guys think about Windows 11 forcing us to use TPM Chips? Are you interested in getting a TPM chip? Do you think it will bring any change? After this condition is forced on us, will you even upgrade to Windows 11?
Share your thoughts in the comments below.
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