Key facts
- AMD will reinstate Transparent Secure Memory Encryption (TSME) in consumer Ryzen processors.
- The feature will be available via a BIOS update scheduled for July.
- TSME encrypts memory contents to protect against physical attacks like cold boot intrusions.
- The protection was silently removed in a recent firmware update, sparking user criticism.
- AMD has not provided an official reason for the removal.
AMD has announced it will reinstate Transparent Secure Memory Encryption (TSME) in its consumer Ryzen processors following significant user backlash. The feature, which encrypts memory contents to protect against physical attacks such as cold boot intrusions, was silently removed in a recent firmware update. This move drew criticism from consumers and security experts who viewed it as an underhanded tactic, especially after TSME had been a feature in consumer chips for about a decade.
In response to the community feedback, AMD stated that it plans to reintroduce the option through a BIOS update scheduled for release in July. The company has not yet officially explained why the protection was initially removed. Speculation among critics suggests it may have been an attempt to steer consumers towards more expensive Pro versions of their CPUs, or potentially for performance reasons, as encryption can introduce latency.
TSME works by automatically encrypting and decrypting data in memory, with an ephemeral encryption key created during system startup that is inaccessible to software. While it offers protection against sophisticated physical attacks, the performance cost can vary, and some game developers have advised disabling it. The article notes that while disabling security features is often discouraged, the risk is lower for consumer chips less likely to store highly valuable data. However, the silent removal of a long-standing feature was seen by many as a breach of trust.