System, methods, and other embodiments described herein relate to improving security of protected values in a memory. In one embodiment, a method includes, in response to receiving a write request indicating at least an item and a write value to write into the memory, determining whether a protected items list (PIL) indicates that the item is protected. The method includes replacing the write value of the write request with a protected value from the PIL that corresponds with the item when the item is listed in the PIL as being protected. The method further includes executing the write request to the memory.