# title
Learn the architecture - Providing protection for complex software

# topic.label
Learn the architecture - Providing protection for complex software

# topic.topics[].label
Stack smashing and execution permissions

# metadata.contentDescription
This guide introduces some common forms of attacks that are used against complex software stacks. The guide also examines the features, including pointer authentication, branch target identification and memory tagging, that are provided in Armv8-A to help mitigate against such attacks.