It seems every month or so there are bugs and vulnerabilities being discovered in our devices. This is both good and bad; it means people are actively monitoring what goes on behind the scenes, but it also could spell trouble for anyone affected by these bugs. The two latest vulnerabilities to appear are Meltdown and Spectre. Let’s take a look:
- Meltdown – Theoretically, Meltdown would allow someone who has remote access to your computer or other device to bypass security protections in computer chips in order to steal secure information like passwords. With updates getting ready to roll out, this vulnerability should not be something to worry about for those who regularly update their systems.
- Spectre – While Spectre is a vulnerability somewhat similar to Meltdown, there is no quick or simple patch for it. Instead, manufacturers of internal parts will have to completely redesign the processors in future devices to get around their current weaknesses and flaws, which will take years to do.
- Seven months shrouded in secrecy – Researchers at Google and some universities discovered these vulnerabilities back in June 2017. So why are we only just hearing about them now? Well, if they were to immediately go public with their findings, it would run the risk of hackers prematurely gaining access to people’s secure information without having notified the tech giants first.
It’s always good preventative practice to install updates when they come out. They most often address bugs that could affect your device, offering patches to keep potential hackers out. Updating your system will also make it compatible with newer software programs.
Categorised in: computer, hacking, in the news, Security