It has emerged that the performance speed of Intel chips can slow down by anything from 5 – 30 per cent when a software fix is applied to rectify a recently discovered fundamental design flaw. However, the reality is that an average user won’t really notice a 30% reduction in their chip speed with regular day-to-day PC or laptop use. It is of much greater relevance that firewalls and other corporate infrastructure have Intel chips. This has a greater potential impact on users and most certainly on potential security for corporates if the fix is not applied. For example WatchGuard (a very well known and trusted brand in firewalls) don’t even have a fix that can be applied as yet
If you have concerns about this flaw and think it may have a potential impact on your companies security or general infrastructure operations, then please feel free to contact FunctionEight ASAP
Extracted from SCMP article as per link:-
Intel chips produced over the last 10 years have a design flaw that must be fixed in software, it has emerged – but the repair causes machines to slow down by up to 30 per cent.
The defect affects the so-called kernel memory on Intel processor chips, The Registerreported, citing unnamed programmers, and allows users of normal applications to discern the layout or content of protected areas on the chips.
That could make it possible for hackers to exploit other security bugs or, worse, expose secure information such as passwords, thus compromising individual computers or even entire server networks.
However, the software “patch” that will be deployed in Microsoft and Linux operating systems can have serious effects on the speed of the chips, the insiders said.
Intel and Microsoft did not immediately respond to emailed requests for comment. Shares in Intel fell by more than 3 per cent following the report.