Spectre and Meltdown bug processor makers
- Autor:Ella Cai
- Lassen Sie auf:2018-01-04
It turns out that Intel, AMD and ARM processors all contain flaws making them vulnerable to hackers.
One, specific to Intel, called Meltdown lets hackers bypass the hardware barrier between applications memory, allowing hackers to read a device’s memory and steal passwords.
The second, called Spectre, affects Intel, AMD and ARM processors and lets hackers manipulate applications into disclosing hitherto secure information.
Apple and Microsoft have patches ready for users for desktop computers affected by Meltdown.
Spectre is less easily patched.
“Intel has begun providing software and firmware updates to mitigate these exploits,” says Intel, “contrary to some reports, any performance impacts are workload-dependent, and, for the average computer user, should not be significant and will be mitigated over time.”
ARM is working with AMD and Intel to fix Spectre.
One, specific to Intel, called Meltdown lets hackers bypass the hardware barrier between applications memory, allowing hackers to read a device’s memory and steal passwords.
The second, called Spectre, affects Intel, AMD and ARM processors and lets hackers manipulate applications into disclosing hitherto secure information.
Apple and Microsoft have patches ready for users for desktop computers affected by Meltdown.
Spectre is less easily patched.
“Intel has begun providing software and firmware updates to mitigate these exploits,” says Intel, “contrary to some reports, any performance impacts are workload-dependent, and, for the average computer user, should not be significant and will be mitigated over time.”
ARM is working with AMD and Intel to fix Spectre.
