Researchers at the University of Michigan have built a device designed to combat microprocessor bugs. The technology, dubbed as "semantic guardian" is a little monitor embedded in the microprocessor. It is devised to check if the chip is being compelled to do something that it is not programmed to do. It can also identify untested states, and then slow down the processor by automatically setting it into safe mode. This decelerates a computers performance, but only for a very short span of time. Despite the promising features of semantic guardian, chip manufacturers may become reluctant to use the technology due to security concerns. Some security specialists believe that that microprocessor bugs may enable a new rash of hacking attacks.
