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Computer researchers have recently found out that the main chip in most modern computers—the CPU—has a hardware bug. Since the issues—dubbed Meltdown and Spectre—exist in the CPU hardware itself, Windows, Linux, Android, macOS, iOS, Chromebooks, and other operating systems all need to protect against it.
This hardware bug allows malicious programs to steal data that is being processed in your computer memory. Normally, applications are not able to do that because they are isolated from each other and the operating system. This hardware bug breaks that isolation.
So, if the hackers are able to get the malicious software running on your computer, they can get access to your passwords stored in a password manager or browser, your emails, instant messages and even business-critical documents.
We are currently working with our clients to update and patch both Operating Systems and Firmware on desktops and servers. This will be an ongoing process, as some of the patches are not even available yet.
In the meantime, reach out to your IT support team to ensure they are on top of this issue. If you do not currently have IT support, contact us today at 504-200-1300 to ensure your data is protected.
While you should always be cautious and suspicious of unknown emails and links in emails, we encourage you to be extra vigilant until your systems are fully patched and updated.
