Disclosed herein are embodiment that are directed to a method comprising storing each encrypted data block, of a cyphertext page, with corresponding encrypted error correction code (ECC) bits in a persistent memory device (PMD). In exemplified embodiments, the encrypted ECC bits verify both an encryption counter value of an encryption operation and a plaintext block of the cyphertext page from a decryption operation. In other embodiments, the method includes decrypting, using the decryption operation during a read operation of a memory controller, a respective one block of the cyphertext file and the corresponding encrypted ECC bits stored in the PMD using a current counter value to form the plaintext block and decrypted ECC bits. Further, the may include verifying the plaintext block with the decrypted ECC bits; and performing a security check of the encryption counter value in response to the plaintext block failing the verification, using the decrypted ECC bits. A system and secure processor that are configured to perform the disclosed methods are provided.