(Video) Windows 11: TESTING the TPM Diagnostics Tool
Windows 11 comes with a new optional feature called 'TPM Diagnostics' that allows administrators to query the data stored on a device's TPM security processor.
This is an optional feature, so you'll need to install it first. The TpmDiagnostics.exe tool also appears to be available to Windows 10 Pro+ users only. Alright, let's check it out!
When it comes to Windows 11, Microsoft is placing all its bets on the TPM 2.0 security processor as a requirement for the OS to power some of its security features.
"PCs of the future need this modern hardware root-of-trust to help protect from both common and sophisticated attacks like ransomware and more sophisticated attacks from nation-states. Requiring the TPM 2.0 elevates the standard for hardware security by requiring that built-in root-of-trust," explains Microsoft in a new blog post.
"TPM 2.0 is a critical building block for providing security with Windows Hello and BitLocker to help customers better protect their identities and data. In addition, for many enterprise customers, TPMs help facilitate Zero Trust security by providing a secure element for attesting to the health of devices."
A TPM is a hardware security processor that is used to securely "protect encryption keys, user credentials, and other sensitive data behind a hardware barrier so that malware and attackers can’t access or tamper with that data."
While this sounds like an important device, many users with older computers that run Windows 10 perfectly are disappointed as they are now being forced into purchasing new hardware if they want to upgrade to Windows 11.
While Microsoft has received considerable pushback due to this new requirement, a new optional feature shows how serious they are about TPM security processors and their use on Windows 11.
HERE IS HOW TO INSTALL TPM DIAGNOSTICS.EXE TOOL
1. Launch Windows Settings.
2. Go to Apps - Optional features
3. Click on the "View features" button.
4. Search for “tpm diagnostics” feature.
5. Tick the checkbox and click the Next button.
6. Click the "Install" button to start the installation process.
7. Now, just wait till the feature installs. This will take up to 5 minutes.
8. You're all set to test the tool!
WHAT IS THIS NEW DIAGNOSTICS TOOL AND WHAT DOES IT DO?
Microsoft's investment in the use of TPM processors shows in a brand new Windows 11 command-line tool called "TPM Diagnostics" that allows administrators to query a TPM for stored information.
When installed, there will be a new 'tpmdiagnostics.exe' executable located in the C:\Windows\System32 folder that allows you to query various information from your installed TPM.
While Microsoft already includes a Trusted Platform Module Management console (tpm.msc), it only provides a small amount of information and the ability to clear the TPM.
The TPmDiagnostics.exe tool allows access to much more significant information, including Windows Attestation Identity Keys, Endorsement Key certificates, others keys stored in the TPM, boot counters, information about what tasks are running, information about the TPM, and much more.
For example, the command TpmDiagnostics.exe GetCapabilities will list the capabilities and settings of the installed TPM processor.
In addition to querying stored keys and other information, you can also use the TPM to perform encoding/decoding of Base64, Hexadecimal, and Binary files.
To learn more, you can enter the following command: tpmdiagnostics.exe /?
It displays all the commands you can run. Let’s say you want to know everything about the TPM chip you have. For that, execute the following command: tpmdiagnostics.exe getdeviceinformation
It shows TPM availability, version, manufacturer ID, and so on. It is possible to enter any other command using the following pattern: tpmdiagnostics.exe [your-keyword]
Different commands show/do different things. A full list of all the commands available in the TPM Diagnostics tool is available in the pinned comment below!
Unless you understand what data is being stored in your TPM, I don't advise playing around with it too much to avoid accidentally removing the keys necessary for the operation of your device.
To sum up, the Microsoft Trusted Platform (TPM) documentation and the new TpmDiagnostics.exe tool can provide a wealth of information about the underlying security mechanics of Windows 11.