Since this is a hardware error, not a software error, the updates will all have to be implemented. Avast is only good for viruses and malware from outside. They may cover this as well, we’ll see.
The browsers and the OS, Windows 10, have not as yet released any updates That I am aware of to fix this, but they are working on it....................
Thank you very much.
I do appreciate knowledgeable people responding to those of kindergartner level (such as me).
The point of antivirus is to preclude running malicious executables. If you don't run malicious executables then the intel flaw can't be exploited. But you don't need AV to preclude running malicious EXEs. Nor do you need any patch as long as you practice safe computing.
The updates exist and are out there, but if your antivirus software vendor hasn’t updated their code if they didn’t already support not making these calls to your hardware incorrectly, then you won’t see the update appear in windows update (there has to be a specific registry key present).
Look upthread just a bit at my last post and you’ll see a link there. I believe that is a much better explanation of what is going on and how to manage/fix the issue.