Symantec reckons it has found two new proof of concept worms that "attack AMD processors" rather than Windows as usual.

It's not completely correct to say that the malware in question attacks processors, but this quote from Vincent Weafer, senior director of Symantec's Security Response Group, illustrates the danger:

"If I can get to the processor level, potentially I can really start tying myself into the core hardware. I can potentially evade some of the kernel protection and user protection. There is an attraction to virus writers to get to the lowest level possible," Weafer told vnunet.com.

In other words, anti-viruses may not be able to detect such a virus, as it is able to hide in hardware. Such a virus would also evade Microsoft's kernel security enhancements on Vista, and virus writers could conceivably target any operating system this way.

Presently, the proof-of-concept worms that Symantec have found, w32.bounds and w64.bounds (for 32 and 64 bit processors respectively) are rated as low risk and harmless. They infect Windows executables only currently.

This development is quite ironic, as AMD has made rather a song and dance about the virus protection in its processors.

With both AMD and Intel looking at hardware-based security solutions, it's no surprise that malware writers are heading in that direction too.

Security is indeed a moving target...