About protection through hardware virtualization in Kaspersky applications
This article concerns:
- Kaspersky Security Cloud
- Kaspersky Internet Security
- Kaspersky Total Security
- Kaspersky Small Office Security
In Kaspersky applications, hardware virtualization technology is used by Protected Browser to provide additional protection against complex malware that could intercept your personal data by using the clipboard or phishing. We recommend enabling hardware virtualization for additional protection if it is available.
Hardware virtualization is only available on 64-bit versions of Windows 8, 8.1 or 10.
To find out if this feature is available on your computer, see the guide below.
If hardware virtualization is available but not working, follow the instructions from this guide below.
How to check if hardware virtualization is available and enable it
How to check if hardware virtualization is available
Hardware virtualization status is displayed in the settings window of your Kaspersky application.
Its location differs slightly depending on the application version. Read this article to find out the version number of your Kaspersky application.
To open the settings:
- Click the settings icon in the lower-left corner of the main window of your Kaspersky application. To learn how to open the main application window, see this article.
- Depending on the version of your Kaspersky application, do the following:
- Versions 21.2.16.590 and 21.3.10.391 — open the Additional section.
- Versions 21.1.15.500 and 20.0.14.1085 — go to the Additional section and select Additional protection and management tools.
- Version 19.0.0.1088 — go to the Protection section and select Safe Money.
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Versions 21.2.16.590 and 21.3.10.391.
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Versions 21.1.15.500 and 20.0.14.1085.
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Version19.0.0.1088.
How to enable protection through hardware virtualization
If the application shows you that hardware virtualization is available, in the same window you can check if the checkbox Use hardware virtualization if available is selected. Select it, if you want start using hardware virtualization to enhance protection in Protected Browser.
Possible reasons why the protection through hardware virtualization does not work
| Reason | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Protection through hardware virtualization is disabled in the Kaspersky application settings. | Enable this protection feature in your Kaspersky application. See the guide above. |
| A third-party hypervisor is running (e.g. virtualization programs by VMware company). | Terminate the third-party hypervisor. |
| Hardware virtualization is disabled on your computer. | Enable hardware support for virtualization features in BIOS settings. See the guide for Windows 10 below. |
| The Device Guard mode is enabled in Windows 10. | Disable the mode. For instructions, see Microsoft support website. |
| The Virtualization Based Security (VBS) mode is enabled in Windows 10. | Disable the mode. To do so, contact Microsoft support. |
| Your computer's CPU does not support the hardware virtualization technology. | To find out whether your computer's CPU supports hardware virtualization, check its technical documentation or contact the CPU manufacturer's technical support. |
How to enable hardware virtualization in BIOS for Windows 10
- Click Start → Settings.
- Go to the Update and Security section → Recovery.
- Click Restart now.
- Go to the Troubleshooting section. If there is no such section in your BIOS interface, move to the next step.
- Click Troubleshoot → Advanced options.
- In the Advanced options menu, select UEFI firmware settings.
- In the UEFI firmware settings menu, click Restart. After the restart, BIOS settings will open.
- In the BIOS settings, go to Configuration, Advanced or Advanced BIOS features (section name depends on the BIOS version).
- Depending on your CPU, do the following:
- Intel — change the status of the Intel Virtual Technology, Intel Virtualization Technology or VT-x line (other variants of the line name are possible) to Enabled. If there is a VT-d parameter, enable it.
- AMD — change the status of the SVM Mode line to Enable. Protection through hardware virtualization is supported for AMD processors no earlier than 1F.4.2.
- Save the settings and restart your computer.
Hardware support for virtualization features will be enabled in BIOS.
Example screenshots for different BIOS versions
Award BIOS
American Megatrends BIOS
UEFI
