1. A mobile computing device for processor-based data protection, the mobile computing device comprising: a memory including data stored therein in an encrypted state; and a central processing unit including a cryptographic symmetric key stored therein and at least one control register, the central processing unit to (i) access the data stored in the memory, (ii) determine that the accessed data is encrypted based on a state of a flag of the at least one control register of the central processing unit, and (iii) decrypt the accessed data using the cryptographic symmetric key in response to determining that the access data is encrypted.