InfoWorld/ Robert McMillan

“Security researchers have developed a new type of malicious rootkit software that hides itself in an obscure part of a computer’s microprocessor, hidden from current antivirus products.

Called an SSM (System Management Mode) rootkit, the software runs in a protected part of a computer’s memory that can be locked and rendered invisible to the operating system but which can give attackers a picture of what’s happening in a computer’s memory.

The SMM rootkit comes with keylogging and communications software and could be used to steal sensitive information from a victim’s computer…”