Huge Flaw Found in Intel Processors; Patch Could Hit 5-30% CPU Performance...

[SciTechPress]

Huge Flaw Found in Intel Processors; Patch Could Hit 5-30% CPU Performance https://t.co/1cnTMGP7h2

Story is still developing. http://pic.twitter.com/1APXFXf3EP

— The Hacker News (@TheHackersNews) January 3, 2018

via ScitechPress.org

[admin]

researchers from Google’s Project Zero, UPenn, and the University of Maryland (among others), discovered hackable security vulnerabilities in computing chips that exist in nearly every mobile phone, computer, and cloud-connected server around the globe.

The bugs, coined “Meltdown” and “Spectre” (trap house mixtape dropping soon), allow malicious software to circumvent a memory chip’s security and steal encrypted information while the chip is in “speculative execution”—aka brainstorming what next steps it should take to execute a task.

The first of the two bugs, Meltdown, could affect every Intel (-1.83%) processor made since 1995. Sure, Google and Microsoft have already announced software updates that can fix the problem, but they’ll slow down devices.

As for the second bug, Spectre, virtually every modern chip (made by Intel, AMD, and ARM) could be vulnerable. And while it’s much more difficult to exploit, there’s no cure-all...unless you go full-Steve Wozniak on your computer and replace the processor. 

But we’re guessing you won’t

Instead, here are some practical steps to keep you from pulling every fire alarm in your building.

Step 1) On January 23rd, update to the latest version of Chrome or Firefox 57 if you use these browsers.

Step 2) If your computer runs on Windows 10, make sure the update KB4056892is installed.

Step 3) Check to see if your computer’s manufacturer has released any information or updates. 

Sorry, Apple lovers—we’re still waiting on any new developments, but make sure to keep your eyes peeled.

[SciTechPress]

I wonder if this could explain the recent surge in AMD's stock valuation?

If I was a computer designer I would demand 100% from my CPU's with almost a perfect history.

This news would scare me to buy from competitors of Intel.

Any link?

[James Thomas Rook Jr.]

4 hours ago, SciTechPress said:

This news would scare me to buy from competitors of Intel.

Any link?

The other chip manufacturers use a technique known as "clean room" ... where there are two rooms isolated from each other.  In one room the hardware designers reverse engineer the Intel chips ... and without writing down the code .. write a set of SPECIFICATIONS of what that portion of the Intel chip is doing.

Then they (AMD or ARM designers) pass the specifications to room No. 2, and with no hints of HOW Intel designed their chips, the reconstructors, from the specifications, design new chips that will exactly emulate what Intel's chips do ... without using ANY of the same code, never having seen it.  All this is heavily documented.

Since 1995 this has been working well, until October of 2016, when one of the AMD disassemblers in clean room no. 1 was eating lunch, and  set a pack of specifications for clean room no. 2 in his chair , and sat down on and smeared a paper towel with six "Chips Ahoy!" cookies.

[admin]

@James Thomas Rook Jr.  Ah... the great Chinese art of reverse engineering.

I think this is why Albert Einstein was said to not have been a fan of "copyright" despite the fact that he worked in a patent office.

Don't hold me to it though... can't remember the details.