A Method for Executing Encrypted Microprocessor Code and Data with Minimal Performance Impact

In the realm of computing, secure execution of programs is of utmost importance. The need to maintain data integrity and privacy drives the development of sophisticated encryption and security technology. However, even in secure processors, unauthorized or malicious programs can exploit vulnerabilities, sometimes resulting in devastating data breaches. Existing approaches for ensuring program security often depend on complex protocols, which not only consume resources but also can introduce possible points of breach. Moreover, these solutions usually lack the stringent controls required to necessarily stop unauthorized programs from being executed. They fail to check the validity of the instructions encoded within a program, thereby providing limited security in a dynamic threat environment.

Technology Description

This technology is a method that places limitations on the execution of an encrypted computer program run on a secure processor. The technology involves executing a series of instructions that encode a test designed to determine if the value of a processor's register aligns with a set of valid values encoded within the encrypted program. The secure processor reads a value from its register, preventing repeated reads of an identical value. This technology stands out for its ability to enhance security by blocking the execution of further instructions if the processor's register value fails to match the set of valid values encoded within the encrypted program. By checking the correctness of the register value before executing any further instructions from the program, the technology ensures that only approved programs execute, thereby bolstering system integrity and security.