TrustKernel announced PlugOS and PlugMate, a security platform designed to turn ordinary phones and personal computers into dual-environment systems with a physically isolated workspace for sensitive activities. PlugMate, a thumb-sized USB-powered unit with its own processor, memory and encrypted storage, runs PlugOS independently from the host device, which functions only as a power source and display.
The company said the product responds to increasing exposure of smartphones and PCs to spyware, OS exploits and cloud-based tracking. According to TrustKernel, users often handle crypto wallets, confidential documents and private conversations in the same environment as social apps, games and untrusted downloads. “Real security starts with a physical boundary,” Chief Executive Wenhao Li said. “PlugOS and PlugMate give users a truly separate, hardware-isolated system so they don’t have to blindly trust their phone, their network, or the cloud.”
PlugOS, based on Android, runs entirely within PlugMate rather than on the host system. TrustKernel said the design requires no rooting, jailbreaking or OS modifications and provides full-disk hardware encryption with mutual pre-boot authentication. A duress PIN can be triggered to wipe the device instantly in high-risk situations. The company also highlighted a telemetry-free software stack, virtualized sensors and a system-level firewall to monitor and block network connections.
From the user perspective, PlugMate behaves as a “second phone” that can be launched when needed for private banking, secure messaging, Web3 wallets or corporate work accounts, while the host device continues to operate as a standard platform for everyday apps and entertainment. TrustKernel said this separation enables sensitive data and identities to remain physically isolated from the main operating system.
The solution is aimed at digital asset holders, privacy-sensitive individuals such as journalists and activists, technical users requiring secure testing environments and professionals handling corporate information on personal devices. TrustKernel said PlugOS and PlugMate are intended to reduce the risk of malware, targeted attacks and accidental data leakage without requiring users to replace their current smartphones or laptops.
Source: PR Newswire