If you've been following tech news in 2018, you'll be well aware of Meltdown and Spectre. Identified as critical vulnerabilities affecting numerous processors in widespread use, the flaw affects millions and could give attackers access to private information such as usernames and passwords.
It ain't a pretty picture, but the flaws have existed for a while and there are no signs yet that they have been exploited. Manufacturers are responding with numerous software updates to remedy the issue, though the eagerness to patch has in some cases resulted in other bugs and performance penalties. We've had all sorts of fun attempting to update our various test platforms with the latest BIOS releases, and getting protected has been easier said than done.
Given that nearly everyone is likely to have been at risk, we're eager to hear what steps you've taken and whether or not your PCs are protected. One useful way to find out is Steve Gibson's InSpectre utility, which is free to download from grc.com/inspectre.htm and quickly displays protection and performance status. It's a good idea to check your systems are safe, so take a moment to run the app and let us know how you fare.
