AMD to restore memory encryption on consumer Ryzen chips after firmware controversy
The chipmaker has confirmed that the BIOS option for Memory Guard will be reinstated in July, citing community feedback, though the reason for its initial removal remains unexplained.
Advanced Micro Devices has announced it will reinstate Transparent Secure Memory Encryption, commonly referred to as Memory Guard, in its non-PRO Ryzen 9000-series desktop processors. The decision follows a period of significant user outcry after the security feature was silently removed from the consumer line in a recent firmware update. The company confirmed that the option will be restored in a BIOS release scheduled for July, stating that the move was made in response to valuable community feedback.
The controversy began when users discovered that the protection, which encrypts the entire contents stored in memory to guard against cold boot attacks and similar intrusions requiring physical access, was no longer available. The removal was executed solely through firmware changes, making it undetectable on Windows machines without technical intervention and requiring more effort to identify on Linux systems. AMD initially declined to explain or acknowledge the change when the issue was first reported.
Critics argued that the quiet removal of a feature supported for approximately a decade was underhanded, with some speculating the move was designed to steer customers toward more expensive Pro models. Others suggested the decision may have been driven by technical difficulties in supporting the feature as chip designs evolved, or by a desire to reduce performance latency for gamers, as encryption and decryption processes can introduce slowdowns.
TSME is an operating system-independent feature that creates an ephemeral encryption key during each system start, ensuring data is automatically encrypted and decrypted on every read or write. While some game developers advise users to disable the feature due to potential performance impacts, security experts note that the protection remains a valuable safeguard against physical access attacks. The incident has drawn comparisons to a broader trend of reduced transparency from major technology firms regarding product changes.
Despite AMD’s continued opacity regarding the specific reasons for the initial removal, the company has credited the community for prompting the reversal. The reinstatement restores a capability that had been tacitly promised to users for years, addressing concerns that the silent removal deprived consumers of a security feature they had come to rely on. The upcoming BIOS update will allow users to re-enable Memory Guard on their non-PRO Ryzen systems.
