Pluton brings Xbox security to PCs

Article Excerpt

MICROSOFT CORP. $214 is a buy. The company (Nasdaq symbol MSFT; Aggressive Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 7.6 billion; Market cap: $1.6 trillion; Price-to-sales ratio: 11.0; Dividend yield: 1.0%; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; www.microsoft.com) has developed a new security technology that chipmakers can embed in their PC processors. Called Pluton, this new technology will make it harder for online intruders to access sensitive information like passwords. It’s also more secure than software-only protection services. That’s because intruders would have to physically access a user’s machine to gain access to files. Microsoft developed Pluton to prevent users from playing games on its Xbox video game consoles that they had not pay for. The company is now working with leading chipmakers, including Intel, Advanced Micro Devices and Qualcomm, to adapt the technology for PCs running Microsoft’s Windows operating software. In addition, it’s possible Microsoft will also opt to sell Pluton to users of other operating systems. Microsoft is a buy. buy…