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In an attempt to bring a new level of security to desktop and mobile PC computing, AMD (NYSE: AMD) today announced that with the release of Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT) Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2), AMD's hardware-based enhanced virus protection (EVP) can now be enabled on all AMD Athlon 64 processors.
This hardware-software combination is designed to keep computers protected against certain malicious viruses, computer worms and Trojan horses.
"AMD is taking a leadership role to deliver a more secure computing experience for home and business users with the enablement of enhanced virus protection on all AMD Athlon 64 processors in the market today," said Marty Seyer, corporate vice president and general manager of the microprocessor business unit at AMD.
"The sophistication of viruses has raised the need for security prevention at all platform levels," said Seyer. "AMD has addressed this need with enhanced virus protection, making the AMD Athlon 64 family of processors the only high-performance PC processors available today that offer this enhanced level of security."
XP SP2 and AVP
"The combination of Windows XP Service Pack 2 with advanced security technologies and improved hardware technology, as found in enhanced virus protection from AMD, is an important step in providing a multilayered defense against many common online threats," said Will Poole, senior vice president in the windows client business unit at Microsoft.
"Security is an issue that requires industry-wide collaboration and we are pleased to be working with AMD to deliver a more secure computing experience for our mutual customers."
EVP is a hardware feature designed into AMD Athlon 64 desktop and mobile processors. When combined with the data execution prevention technology found in Windows XP SP2, EVP not only identifies certain malicious code, specifically those that execute buffer-overflow attacks, but also prevents them from replicating and spreading throughout the system.
"With buffer overflow attacks costing between $385 million and $1.2 billion, it has become absolutely critical that companies mitigate the related exposure," said Rob Enderle, president and principal analyst for the Enderle Group.
Built-In EVP
Every AMD Athlon 64 FX-53, AMD Athlon 64 mobile and desktop, and Mobile AMD Sempron processor customer 
can now use the built-in EVP capability when enabled by Windows XP SP2.
For businesses and enterprises using the AMD Opteron processor, EVP will be enabled with the upcoming release of Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1 and Windows Server 2003 for 64-bit Extended Systems.
EVP will by default only protect the user's Windows operating system. Users must, at installation of Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2 or when they first purchase their systems, enable the protection of their applications and associated files from memory buffer overrun attacks.
AMD and Microsoft strongly recommend that users use third party antivirus software as part of their security strategies.
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