Major security flaws on many processors: partially corrected on Mac, also present on smartphones?

Update: ARM has released the models of
processors affected by the design defect, which makes it possible to know
more about affected Apple devices. See at the end of the article.

Therevue tech
English The Registerrecently reported that Intel processor chips
currently present asignificant security breach
allowing unauthorized access to secure data located at the core
of the component. It is in fact adesign flaw
quite problematic, since its correction at the software level would involve a
noticeable slowdown of the processor. Despite this, the developers of
major desktop operating systems would be on the verge of
war forfind a solution:

Microsoft et Linuxare notably on the spot, but the
problem also being present on the Intel processors which equip the
Apple computers, Apple is also concerned. The Cupertino company has
moreover already minimized the impact of the defect via thelast update
macOS 10.13.2, released on December 6. According to the developer
Alex IonescuBesides, the next version 10.13.3 of macOS
currently in beta testing shouldcompletelysolve the
issue.

Note that, while for Microsoft and Linux, software solutions
considered to correct the design defect should cause a
slowdown of processors by 5 to 30%, for Macs, the
performance drop would be more minimal and imperceptible for
the user.

Developers must act quickly, because the implications
caused by the design defect aregraves. The latter
is actually responsible for the creation oftwo flaws
offering access to thecentral processor memory. That
would allow hackers to recover theinformations
that it contains, likepasswords, of the
mails, of thehidden fileshard drive or
other sensitive and private data. Otherwise, these flaws also open
the way to take advantage of other security weaknesses and thus cause
even greater damage.

Specialists have named these two faults “Spectre” and “Meltdown”. While
whatMeltdownonly affects processors
Intel, it was discovered thatSpectrecan
also reach the fleasAMDetARM. THE
iPhone and iPad would therefore also be affected, being equipped with ARM processors
for a few years now.

Please note, however, that AMD has communicated on the subject, specifying that the risk
for its processor chips is almost zero since based on a
different architecture. ARM also provided its information, which validates
the vulnerability of its processors to the flawSpectre.

In total, millions of machines are affected, from1995 to our
days. And all this had since then been passed over in silence because
of an embargo put in place by the manufacturers and running until9
next January. But recentrevelationsof
The Register and other tech magazines have pushed Intel and its partners to
communicate earlier than expected on the subject.

New additional information should also be
released by Intel in particular, in the days to come.

In any case, everyone confirmed that they wanted to resolve these flaws as quickly as possible.
security, it is aboutsafetydata from
users.

Update: ARM has released a security update for
vulnerable processors, this concernsCortex-A8, A9 and
A15. However, certain Ax chips from Apple are based on these models
ARM cortex. Here is the list of Apple devices that would be affected by
Intel's security flaw:

• iPhone 4, 4S, 5, 5C, first and third generation iPad, iPad 2,
  Apple TV 2 and 3rd generation, and iPod touch 4 and 5th generation.

The list is, however, notexhaustive, it could be that
other Apple mobile devices added to the lot according to news
information. ARM nevertheless specifies that the risk of attack remains very
weak despite these flaws and obviously advises always
update your devicesto take advantage of
latest security updates.

Source,

source,source

Editor-in-chief for iPhon.fr. Pierre is like Indiana Jones, looking for the lost iOS trick. Also a long-time Mac user, Apple devices hold no secrets for him. Contact: pierre[a]iphon.fr.