While there are POC exploits, it would be difficult to actually use them effectively against a target computer.
Difficult, but not impossible.
Relatively non-techie, here, thanks in advance if anyone feels like addressing the following:
I have a Dell laptop, with the following processor:
Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-6200U CPU @ 2.30 GHz
running Windows 10 with automatic updates.
Anyone know if I should be particularly concerned by the problems announced with Intel processors, etc.??
or should I be ok? thanks to anyone!!
Wow, for meltdown, the Intel FUD machine is in overdrive. Not sure about Spectre, though. My discussion below is focused on Meltdown.
As I understand, Intel was doing speculative execution without memory protections in place on the instructions being speculatively executed (this is deep in Comp Eng, but if interested, it can be explained).
So for years they have dominated AMD in benchmarks, but turns out their method of perf extraction is a bit iffy!
I am not a AMD fan boy, but can’t really prove it here.
But needless to say I have been cheap for years and refused to pay the Intel tax for consumer grade hardware, so I lucked out. Not even my ten year old amd64 laptops will be impacted, unless MS insists upon subjecting AMD to the same WARs that Intel processors will be forced to execute.
It’s going to play hell with Amazon, etc. who export cloud compute services, and more than likely are exclusive Intel shops. You don’t take the fix, and you could compromise customer security.
Too much BS for Me.
All I want to know is does it have real butter, S&P and come on the Cob.