Embodiments of an invention for method, apparatus, and instructions for safely storing secrets in system memory are disclosed. In one embodiment, a processor includes a hardware key, an instruction unit, and an encryption unit. The instruction unit is to receive an encryption instruction and a compare instruction. The encryption instruction is to have a first plaintext input value. The compare instruction is to have a second plaintext input value. The encryption unit is to, in response to the encryption instruction, encrypt the first plaintext input value using the hardware key to generate a ciphertext value, and, in response to the compare instruction, decrypt the ciphertext value using the hardware key to generate a plaintext output value and compare the plaintext output value to the second plaintext input value.