Microsoft justifies Windows 11 TPM 2.0 requirement in new video

Microsoft Windows 11 running on an Apple MacBook laptop.

(Epitome credit: rawf8/Shutterstock)

Windows 11 officially launched final week. It brings many new features and updates to the Windows experience. It too comes with some stringent hardware requirements. Chief among these is TPM (Trusted Platform Module) support — a feature even some non-so-old PCs lack. Microsoft has stated that these requirements are in place to protect systems from hackers. The Redmond-based visitor has now released a video which aims to justify Windows eleven'south strict hardware requirements.

Starring Microsoft security expert Dave Weston, the video contains 2 examples of real-world attacks Windows 11 protects against. In the outset prune, Weston shows how hackers tin use an RDP (remote desktop protocol) port to brute force their way into a PC (via countersign) and infect a computer with ransomware. The 2d example has Weston using a PCI Leech device to bypass fingerprint-recognition login on a PC.

Windows 11 review
What is a TPM? And here's why you need it for Windows 11
Plus: Y'all tin can actually upgrade to Windows 11 without a TPM -- here's how

Weston then shows how Windows 11 protects against both threats, calling out the operating organisation'due south Virtualization-based Security (VBS) as a cardinal mode of protecting PCs against attacks like the fingerprint login bypass.

Regarding VBS, sister site Techradar notes that it can crusade gaming frame rate drops. VBS is on by default in Windows eleven, and even if you ain a powerful gaming PC you could notwithstanding (potentially) experience frame rate drops. If you're a gamer, this could be a serious upshot.

Nosotros can't begrudge Microsoft wanting to protect users against attacks such equally those detailed in the video. In fact, it'due south great that Windows 11 has such security measures in place. However, the company could take done a better job of explaining things like TPM in the lead-up to Windows xi's release. Not having TPM two.0 is one of the primary reasons folks take been unable to update to Windows 11 on older machines (myself included), and there'due south a lot of gray area in the Windows 11 TPM requirements. Information technology's possible yous might not be able to install Windows 11 because your PC might take an outdated TPM 1.2 scrap (though in that location's a Microsoft-provided workaround to install Windows 11 if yous have TPM one.2). Or you may have a TPM chip on your motherboard that simply needs to be turned on via the BIOS. In brusque, the situation can be frustrating.

Windows xi is still new, meaning folks around the world are still discovering its many quirks. And since in that location'due south still some defoliation surrounding latest Microsoft's operating system, we promise the company continues releasing more videos explaining Windows 11'southward features and functions.

More: Windows 11: What it ways for gamers

Tony is a computing author at Tom'south Guide covering laptops, tablets, Windows, and iOS. During his off-hours, Tony enjoys reading comic books, playing video games, reading speculative fiction novels, and spending too much time on Twitter. His non-nerdy pursuits involve attending Hard Rock/Heavy Metal concerts and going to NYC bars with friends and colleagues. His piece of work has appeared in publications such as Laptop Mag, PC Magazine, and various contained gaming sites.