Hello, all.
Over the last few days, the world of technology has been rocked by the news that there are design flaws in virtually all Intel chips out there (anything manufactured since 1995) which leave them vulnerable to attack. All major Operating System vendors are offering patches; here's what I've been able to find out about these flaws (known as Meltdown and Spectre) and the available patches.
First, Frequently Asked Questions, or FAQs:
Meltdown and Spectre FAQ: Fix for Intel CPU flaws could slow down PCs and Macs
The latest overview I was able to find, and the status of patches: which are available, where to get them, etc.:
Meltdown and Spectre Fixes Arrive—But Don't Solve Everything
From January 4th, How to protect your devices from Meltdown and Spectre attacks:
[Guide] How to Protect Your Devices Against Meltdown and Spectre Attacks
Statement from Microsoft about how your 3rd party anti-virus software may be blocking you from installing the patch:
Windows Meltdown-Spectre patches: If you haven't got them, blame your antivirus | ZDNet
More about the potential problems with 3rd party anti-virus software:
Microsoft warns patches for Meltdown, Spectre may clash with AV
There have been warnings that the patches may cause devices to run more slowly. However, this report says that those warnings seem to have been overblown:
Tech Titans Downplay Meltdown And Spectre Patches' Performance Hits
It's still early days. New chips will, of course, be manufactured without these flaws now that they're known, but it's highly unlikely that you'll be able to get your devices repaired; eventually you'll want to buy something new. If you're currently in the market for a new computer, tablet, or smartphone you may want to wait until a version with the new chipsets becomes available.
My intent is to continue posting information and links in this thread as they become available, and I would appreciate any information others have to share on this topic.
If you haven't gotten your security updates yet, please do so as soon as they become available. I just spent 45 minutes or so manually updating my Windows 7 laptop. You'll probably want to save all files and close all running programs before updating, as the update is almost certain to conclude with an instruction to restart your machine.
Just one more thing: Don't Panic! As of yet there are no known viruses attempting to take advantage of these flaws. You still have time to beat the bad guys to the punch.
Margret
Over the last few days, the world of technology has been rocked by the news that there are design flaws in virtually all Intel chips out there (anything manufactured since 1995) which leave them vulnerable to attack. All major Operating System vendors are offering patches; here's what I've been able to find out about these flaws (known as Meltdown and Spectre) and the available patches.
First, Frequently Asked Questions, or FAQs:
Meltdown and Spectre FAQ: Fix for Intel CPU flaws could slow down PCs and Macs
The latest overview I was able to find, and the status of patches: which are available, where to get them, etc.:
Meltdown and Spectre Fixes Arrive—But Don't Solve Everything
From January 4th, How to protect your devices from Meltdown and Spectre attacks:
[Guide] How to Protect Your Devices Against Meltdown and Spectre Attacks
Statement from Microsoft about how your 3rd party anti-virus software may be blocking you from installing the patch:
Windows Meltdown-Spectre patches: If you haven't got them, blame your antivirus | ZDNet
More about the potential problems with 3rd party anti-virus software:
Microsoft warns patches for Meltdown, Spectre may clash with AV
There have been warnings that the patches may cause devices to run more slowly. However, this report says that those warnings seem to have been overblown:
Tech Titans Downplay Meltdown And Spectre Patches' Performance Hits
It's still early days. New chips will, of course, be manufactured without these flaws now that they're known, but it's highly unlikely that you'll be able to get your devices repaired; eventually you'll want to buy something new. If you're currently in the market for a new computer, tablet, or smartphone you may want to wait until a version with the new chipsets becomes available.
My intent is to continue posting information and links in this thread as they become available, and I would appreciate any information others have to share on this topic.
If you haven't gotten your security updates yet, please do so as soon as they become available. I just spent 45 minutes or so manually updating my Windows 7 laptop. You'll probably want to save all files and close all running programs before updating, as the update is almost certain to conclude with an instruction to restart your machine.
Just one more thing: Don't Panic! As of yet there are no known viruses attempting to take advantage of these flaws. You still have time to beat the bad guys to the punch.
Margret
Last edited: