What is an MPU?
MPU stands for Memory Protection Unit, and is a type of hardware function that is designed to protect a computer system’s memory. It monitors the system’s memory accesses and can detect when a process is trying to access memory that it is not authorized to access. When an unauthorized access is detected, the MPU will take action to prevent the process from accessing the memory and will also alert the system administrator so they can take action.
What are the Benefits of an MPU?
An MPU can help protect a computer system from malicious software, including viruses, worms, and Trojans. By preventing unauthorized access to memory, the MPU can help to ensure that only legitimate processes can be allowed to run on the system. This can help protect the system from malicious software that may be trying to access critical system files or data, or to execute malicious code. An MPU can also be used to help protect against buffer overflows, which are a common type of attack in which malicious code is injected into a buffer in memory. The MPU can detect when a process is trying to access a buffer that it is not authorized to access and will prevent the process from accessing the buffer.
How Does an MPU Work?
An MPU typically works by setting up a series of rules that define which processes can access which areas of memory. When a process attempts to access memory, the MPU will check the rule set to determine if the process is authorized to access the memory. If the process is not authorized, the MPU will take action to prevent the process from accessing the memory. The MPU can also be used to set up a system of privileges, which can limit the type of access that a process can have. For example, a process can be granted read-only access to a certain area of memory, or it can be allowed to write to a certain area of memory. By setting up these rules, the MPU can help to ensure that processes are only accessing memory that they are authorized to access.
Conclusion
An MPU can be a valuable tool for protecting a computer system from malicious software and buffer overflows. By monitoring memory accesses and preventing unauthorized access, the MPU can help to ensure that only legitimate processes are running on the system. To find out more about MPUs, please visit the following links: