Concern Spreads Over Meltdown and Spectre Problems

Meltdown and Spectre are some of the most devastating IT security flaws in recent history, affecting almost every electronic device and operating system in the last 20 years.

The Meltdown and Spectre security flaws stem from reportedly defective Intel chips which hackers can utilize to get access to personal consumer information from various access points including emails, browsers, photos, documents, and password managers.

Meltdown and Spectre affect countless devices using a cloud computing system, which includes numerous computers and smartphones. Intel had previously tried to resolve these problems by implementing a software patch to cover the security flaw which has reportedly caused numerous consumers problems with their computers.

After the security patch was implemented, computers have been reportedly slowing down by as much as 30 percent and have suffered from random and frequent reboots. After receiving these consumer reports, Intel has advised consumers to stop installing these faulty security patches.

Overview of Meltdown and Spectre Problems

After Meltdown and Spectre became public knowledge, class action investigators began reviewing consumer complaints alleging they experienced harm from the defective Intel processor and software patch. Many consumers are reeling from the announcement of Meltdown and Spectre and have many questions. Many of these consumers are opting to educate themselves on the problem. It is currently advised that consumers keep their antivirus software updated and learn how to protect their computer against Meltdown and Spectre.

The first step in protecting computers against this problem is understanding what Meltdown and Spectre affect.  These security flaws affect a computer’s operating systems sacrosanct kernel memory. The kernel is a vital component of the operating system which essentially allows applications to run on the computer. Due to its functionality, the kernel has full access to the computer’s operating system. Meltdown causes a breakdown in the separation between a computer’s applications and its operating system. Spectre primarily affects AMD and ARM processors as well as Intel CPU’s, which primarily pertain to smartphones.

Overall, consumers should be aware of some basic facts about Meltdown and Spectre:

• Essentially every device with an Intel processor released since 1995 is vulnerable to Meltdown and Spectre, including Mac computers.
• There is a malware program that exploits Spectre and Meltdown, but experts do not believe it is a serious threat at the moment. It is suspected that malware writers are experimenting with possibilities.
• How do you keep your computer safe? Keep the operating system, security software, and web browser updated, as well as the CPU’s firmware.
• While there are several security patches available, some of them could be harmful to the electronic device. Intel released firmware updates for its processors, but the first round of Spectre patches reportedly caused system instability, reboots, and potential data loss. Consumers are advised to get updated firmware when available, and to get them from the respective manufacturer of the PC or laptop, rather than Intel.
• The patches may cause computers to slow down. This problem varies between hardware and operating systems, but current Intel CPU firmware have caused serious functionality problems. Intel stated that processing power could be lost, depending on workload and “should not be significant” for the average user.

Join a Free Intel Processor Class Action Lawsuit Investigation

If you or your company were negatively affected by the Intel processor defect, including suffering damages caused by installing the Intel software patch, you may have a legal claim.

Learn More