Secured execution context data

A system comprising:

• a processor,
• an operating system and
• a circuit,
• wherein the processor comprises at least one register and a memory, the processor and the operating system being configured to execute a software program, the software program comprising a plurality of functions, and wherein execution context data are produced and stored in the memory during execution of the software program by the processor and the operating system;
• and
• wherein the circuit is separate and operates independently from the processor and is configured to monitor security of the processor, and wherein the circuit is configured to:
• access at least a part of the execution context data,
• store at least a part of the accessed execution context data in a circuit memory of the circuit,
• determine one or more signatures from the at least a part of the execution context data,
• compare the one or more signatures with predefined signatures,
• detect an attack against the processor if the one or more signatures do not match the predefined signatures based on the comparing,
• restore the execution context data to the at least one register of the processor if the determined signatures match the predefined signatures,
• wherein the circuit is further configured to use a key to verify an integrity of the execution context data, and the verification is performed in parallel to the execution of the software program;
• and
• wherein the circuit is configured to control the processor based on the comparing and/or the execution context data.