Intel, Amd and Arm, the three US giants, which are synonymous with microchips on a global level, have run for cover to remedy a serious flaw in the security systems of all processors, i.e. the equipment on which all PCs produced in the last 10 years. The serious flaw, as revealed by the Financial Times, could be exploited by hackers to break into the encrypted systems of the big high-tech companies and obtain confidential information such as passwords and a certain number of sensitive data. Intel is working on server and PC chips, AMD on smartphone chips.
“It's not a problem that concerns a single company – reveals Steve Smith, Intel expert – but of a general approach”. "If Intel, AMD and ARM are affected - explains to the Ft Beau Woods, cyber security expert of the Atlantic Council - we are talking about something that concerns the system that manages the PCs produced in the world for 10 years now". Intel says it is working on changes involving a combination of hardware and software to address the issue. Last night Forbes had revealed that the "patch" (in English "patch / update") could slow down the performance of the CPU (the heart of computers) between 5 and 30%. The first changes have been seen in the latest versions of Linux. Microsoft is working on it for Windows. Apple is silent for now.
Forbes also fuels a suspicion: that Intel's top management had known about the defect for some time and cites the case of the company's CEO, Brian Krzanich, who in mid-December owned 495.743 shares of Intel and suddenly sold all possible ones , remaining with only 250.000 which he is obliged by statute to possess.
Apple admitted that the vulnerability found on the microchips affects "all Mac and iOS devices", but also specified that "it is not possible to know what impact it causes on users". The Cupertino company announces that it is working to release an update to Safari - the browser used to surf the internet from iPad, iPhone and Mac - capable of solving the problem.
In reality, the company points out, the latest operating system updates for Mac computers, Apple TV, iPhone and iPad protect users from the attack of the Meltdown version and do not slow down the devices, while Meltdown has no effect on the Apple Watch. All Apple devices are currently vulnerable to attacks by Specter through the code that can be executed, in fact, in web browsers.
