Intel CPU ‘Flaw’ Reports Incorrect, Company Says

It was reported earlier today that a major flaw has been discovered in Intel CPUs and that the patch for this flaw may result in a performance hit. The kernel flaw was reportedly present in all Intel chips released in the past decade, powering millions of computers on different platforms. The report claimed that the flaw could enable malicious programs to access the contents of the kernel memory which can contain login keys and passwords. Intel has now issued a statement in a bid to set the record straight on this report.

Intel says in its statement that it believes that the exploits detailed in the report do not have the ability to corrupt, modify or delete data.

The company also said that the perception that these exploits are due to a “bug” or “flaw” that’s unique to Intel chips is “incorrect.” The company adds that “Based on the analysis to date, many types of computing devices — with many different vendors’ processors and operating systems — are susceptible to these exploits.”

The company says that it’s working with other technology companies like AMD, ARM, and others to develop an industry-wide approach “to resolve this issue promptly and constructively.” Intel has started providing software and firmware updates to mitigate these exploits.

It also addresses performance concerns in its statement saying that contrary to reports, performance impacts are workload-dependent and that they will not be significant for the average computer user and will be mitigated over time.

The company adds that it planned on disclosing this issue next week with other vendors when more software and firmware updates would have been available. However, it has decided to respond today owing to “inaccurate media reports.”

Intel advises users to check with their operating system vendor or system manufacturer and install any available updates as soon as possible to protect against possible exploitation.

Adnan Farooqui
Categories: Computers
Tags: Intel, Social Hit