Last week, news surfaced that modern processors have two fatal flaws called Meltdown and Spectre. These two major flaws in computer processors could allow for cybercriminals to steal passwords and sensitive data. They are no joke.
If your computer has a vulnerable processor and runs an unpatched operating system, it is not safe to work with sensitive information without the chance of leaking the information. This applies both to personal computers as well as cloud infrastructure.
So, what’s next?
First of all, there is no evidence that hackers have exploited the vulnerabilities. But experts say don’t get too comfortable because it’s only a matter of time before hackers start making attempts.
Is there a fix for Meltdown and Spectre?
Yes and no. Many tech companies were aware of the flaws long before the news was made public, and they have been working on fixes for all affected products and services.
Currently, there are patches against Meltdown for Linux, Windows, and OS X. There is also work to harden software against future exploitation of Spectre, respectively to patch software after exploitation through Spectre.
For the ordinary computer user, there is not much to do about the bugs right now. Just keep your computer and phone’s software updated, so you receive the latest fixes. Keep in mind, there might be a lot of updates coming down the pipeline. Don’t brush off these updates–each one is important.
Lastly, you should consider installing an ad-blocker to protect against ads that carry malware that could exploit these vulnerabilities.
If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to the MRW Systems team at 410-751-7111.
Our NetGarde Security Professionals work with our clients to ensure their software is always up to date, and that all avenues for digital entry to your network are protected.