Keep Your PC Safe from Malware with Windows 10 Memory Integrity Protection

Hey there! I want to share something important with you. It’s all about protecting your precious PC against the sneaky dangers of malware. And guess what? Windows 10 has a nifty feature called Memory Integrity Protection that can give you an extra layer of defense. Let’s dive into this topic together and see how it can safeguard your computer!

Before we get into the nitty-gritty, you might be wondering, “What is malware?” Well, my friend, malware is a fancy word for malicious software. These naughty programs can be real troublemakers. They can sneak into your computer, wreak havoc, steal your private information, and even bring your system to its knees. Yikes!

But fear not, because Windows 10 has your back. Allow me to introduce you to Memory Integrity Protection. This feature acts like a virtual fortress, shielding your PC from the evil intentions of malware.

So, how does it work? Well, Memory Integrity Protection keeps a close eye on your computer’s memory. It uses advanced technology to detect any unwelcome changes in your system’s memory addresses. If it senses something fishy going on, it swoops in to block the intrusive software and protect your precious data.

You might be thinking, “Okay, but why is this important?” Well, my friend, the truth is that malware is constantly evolving. Hackers are always on the lookout for new ways to exploit vulnerabilities in your computer. Memory Integrity Protection is like a superhero that stays updated with the latest threats, ensuring that your PC stays ahead of the bad guys.

But wait, there’s more! Memory Integrity Protection is not only great at keeping your computer safe, but it also plays well with others. It works harmoniously with Windows Defender, your trusted ally in the fight against malware. Together, they form a formidable team, providing you with a strong defense against even the sneakiest of threats.

Now, you might be wondering how to activate this superpower on your Windows 10 PC. It’s pretty simple, really. Just follow these steps: Go to your Windows Security settings, navigate to the Device Security section, and look for the “Core Isolation” option. Toggle the switch to turn it on, and voila! Your PC is now equipped with the mighty Memory Integrity Protection. Congratulations, you’ve taken a big step towards securing your digital world!

So there you have it, my friend. Windows 10’s Memory Integrity Protection is a powerful tool that helps keep your PC safe from the clutches of malware. By protecting your computer’s memory, it forms a robust defense against the ever-evolving threats out there. With this extra layer of security, you can browse, work, and play on your PC with peace of mind. Stay safe!

I bet you’ve heard a lot about security these days, especially with all the recent attacks like WannaCry and Spectre. It’s a big problem, and it’s important to protect yourself against ransomware and other harmful viruses. But here’s the thing: the everyday protections we usually use don’t work well against more sophisticated attacks.

That’s where Memory Integrity Protection comes in. It’s a new feature called Core Isolation that adds an extra layer of security against complex attacks. By enabling Memory Integrity, you activate a virtualization-based security feature that makes it harder for the bad guys to get in.

Now, let’s talk about what Memory Integrity actually is. Lately, there have been a lot of kernel-level exploits that try to execute malware without getting caught by security measures. That’s how WannaCry and Petya spread so fast everywhere.

But here’s the good news: Microsoft has introduced Virtualization-based Security (VBS) to consumer versions of Windows 10. Basically, it uses hardware virtualization features to create a separate portion of memory that is completely isolated from the operating system. It’s like a virtual secure mode where the system checks the integrity of drivers and binaries before running them. This means that unsigned system files or drivers can’t be loaded and executed, which prevents another WannaCry or Petya from happening.

Now, this new security system isn’t foolproof, but it greatly reduces the chances of a major attack. Even if some malware manages to get into the kernel, it can’t do much because the hypervisor can stop it from executing code or accessing important resources. Microsoft explains it like this:

“With the increased protections offered by VBS, even if malware gains access to the OS kernel, the possible exploits can be greatly limited and contained, because the hypervisor can prevent the malware from executing code or accessing platform secrets.”

So, it’s definitely a good idea to enable this kind of security on your Windows 10 PC. Whether you have a desktop, laptop, or a Surface Book, this kernel-level security can save you a lot of trouble in case of another major virus attack.

If you’re interested in enabling Memory Integrity for yourself, just follow these steps.

How to enable Memory Integrity

Enabling Memory Integrity on Windows 10 is pretty simple, but there are a couple of requirements. First, your device’s processor must support virtualization. Second, virtualization must be enabled in your BIOS or UEFI.

To access your BIOS or UEFI, you usually need to press a specific hotkey during startup. It’s usually F2, but it can vary depending on your computer’s brand. For example, some ASUS laptops use F10. Just restart your system, press the hotkey during startup (you have to be quick!), and you should be able to access the BIOS or UEFI settings.

If you want to access your BIOS or UEFI from inside Windows 10, you can do that too. Just go to the Settings app and navigate to Update & Security > Recovery. Under “Advanced Startup,” click on “Restart Now.”

After clicking, a blue screen will appear with a few options. Here, click on the “Troubleshoot” icon, then select “Advanced Options,” and finally click on “UEFI Firmware Settings.” To complete the process, click on the “Restart” button. Doing this will take you directly into your BIOS or UEFI firmware.

Every manufacturer has their own section in the BIOS/UEFI where they place their virtualization support options. In many ASUS laptops, you can find it under the “Advanced” settings. It may take some searching to find it on your specific computer, but it should resemble the image above. Just make sure it’s turned on.

Keep in mind that when you enable virtualization in your BIOS/UEFI, various built-in Windows 10 protections are automatically activated. One of these is Hypervisor Protected Code Integrity (HVCI). If you want to learn more about all of this, you can visit Microsoft’s website.

Now that virtualization is enabled, we can move on to enabling Memory Integrity in Windows 10. Remember to save your BIOS/UEFI settings and restart your computer.

Once your computer is booted into Windows 10, go to the Windows Defender Security Center. Accessing it is quite simple – just search for the term in the Search bar on the Windows 10 taskbar. After you open the application, go to the Device Security tab. Under Core Isolation, click on the Core Isolation Details link.

If you want to access the Core Isolation settings, just follow these steps. First, click on the Memory Integrity slider to turn it “On”.

If the Setting is grayed out, it means only an Administrator can change it. In that case, we need to disable Memory Integrity through the Registry Editor. But be careful! Before accessing the Registry Editor, make sure to back up your PC completely. Messing with the Registry Editor can cause irreversible damage to your Windows 10.

If you follow our steps exactly, you shouldn’t run into any problems. However, it’s always a good idea to do a full system backup just in case something goes wrong.

To access the Registry, open Command Prompt and type “regedit”. This will open the Registry. Now, follow this path to get into Memory Integrity in Core Isolation:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\DeviceGuard\Scenarios\HypervisorEnforcedCodeIntegrity

Inside this path, double-click on the “Enabled” key. Set its value to 0 and click OK. Restart your computer and the changes will be applied automatically. Memory Integrity should now be disabled, allowing you to use the application without any issues. If you want to enable Memory Integrity again, just follow the steps provided by the Windows Defender Security Center or change the value we just turned off to 1 in the Registry.

Once you’ve done all that, reboot your PC. Congratulations! Your PC now has enhanced security against sophisticated attacks!

Issues with Memory Integrity in Core Isolation

Enabling this setting can sometimes cause compatibility problems with certain applications. These issues typically include bugs, slow performance, and even applications failing to launch. Don’t worry, though. These problems are usually because the applications haven’t been updated to fully support this feature.

To use the problematic applications, simply turn off Memory Integrity. Just repeat the steps provided by the Windows Defender Security Center, but this time slide the Memory Integrity switch to “Off”.

Conclusion

Enabling Memory Integrity Protection may seem like a lengthy process, but once it’s turned on, you can count on added security. If you encounter compatibility issues with other apps, you can easily turn it off without needing to access the Registry. Overall, with Memory Integrity Protection enabled, you can worry less about sophisticated attacks like WannaCry or Petya. This feature makes it difficult for remote code execution to happen, so when combined with traditional anti-malware software, you’re well protected against common and rare attacks.

If you have any questions, comments, or need assistance, feel free to leave a comment below or join us on the PCMech Forums. Our knowledgeable community is always ready to help you with any PC problems or questions you may have.