ESET, Intel team up to detect ransomware using hardware

ESET has set out to integrate Intel Threat Detection Technology (Intel TDT) into its multi-layered cybersecurity technology suite.

Recognizing the complex and growing nature of ransomware, which is becoming an increasingly powerful threat to customers’ business and personal life, ESET will strengthen its software-based detection methods with ransomware detection capabilities that only Intel hardware can provide.

“This collaboration recognizes the immediate boost in ransomware protection that integrating Intel’s hardware-based ransomware detection technology can deliver. Tapping into telemetry at the CPU level is an effective step we can take to enable improved tracking of malicious encryption. Basically, for ESET this means exposing ransomware as it attempts to avoid detection in memory. ESET has always believed in the multi-layered approach, and by adding the silicon layer we recognize that hardware-based security is the next milestone in battling threats,” shares Előd Kironský, Chief of Endpoint Solutions and Security Technologies at ESET.

With technological advancements frequently providing new tools for the long-term prosperity and security of SMBs, the inclusion of Intel TDT means that ESET endpoint security software operating on Intel-based PCs can provide stronger ransomware protection.

The value proposition of this collaboration for ESET and its clients lies in the parallel benefits of using Intel TDT machine learning models to assist with ransomware detection while simultaneously offloading these processing demands to the Intel integrated graphics controller (GPU), keeping overall system performance high.

“Low impact to system performance is an area that ESET has always prioritized within its multi-layered software architecture and is a key selling point for many of our clients. Leveraging tech that can help us with prevention and protection, while also preserving performance is a win-win choice,” says Kironský.

“Ransomware impacts both small businesses and large enterprises and can result in economic fallout on a global scale. We are excited to partner with ESET which delivers a true global deployment footprint. ESET’s ransomware optimizations will work across both Intel vPro Enterprise and our new Intel vPro Essentials targeted for SMBs. This delivers a compelling hardware and software bundle that delivers right-sized security for businesses of any size and delivers higher efficacy security when ESET software is run on Intel-based PCs. This is a major step forward to turn the tide against ransomware,” said Carla Rodriguez, Sr Director Ecosystem Partner Enablement, Intel Corp. 

The advantages of this integration will be accessible later this year in a new edition of ESET’s endpoint security solutions. ESET will focus on endpoints with 9th Gen and newer Intel CoreTM and Intel vPro Windows-based PCs that can leverage Intel TDT out-of-the-box in the initial wave of releases.