Security flaw in recent Intel i5, i6 & i7 processors

[mezzoman253]

I'm subscribed to a well known bi-weekly computer magazine.

 

One recent article was awareness of a serious security vulnerability in Intel processors. The ones involved are i5, i6 & i7, which have been used since 2015.

 

Popular models with these chips include Dell Inspiron, Acer Latitude & desktop PC such as Lenovo's ThinkCentres. obviously and device with these chips could be affected.

 

Here are some links to manufacturers sites explaining the situation:-

 

https://us.answers.acer.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/51890

 

http://www.dell.com/support/article/us/en/04/sln308237/dell-client-statement-on-intel-me-txe-advisory--intel-sa-00086-?lang=en

 

https://support.lenovo.com/gb/en/product_security/len-17297

 

Appilcations are available to scan your device for the flaw and patches are being made available over time to rectify the problem.

 

At present both my desktop & laptop are affected and I'm waiting firmware patch releases, due in a few days.

 

HTH

 

Rob

[Horsetan]

What happens if you built your own PC using an Intel CPU? What support is there?

[brigo]

Here's the Intel page about the problem.

 

https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/support/articles/000025619/software.html

 

There are links to the various suppliers, if you built the PC yourself then you should follow the link to the motherboard supplier.

 

Brian

[Oldddudders]

I see no mention of Apple products, or did I just miss them? Sherry and I each have a 2015 i5 iMac.

[Junctionmad]

I see no mention of Apple products, or did I just miss them? Sherry and I each have a 2015 i5 iMac.

The vulnerabilities largely neeed physical access to the device , or valid network credentials , hence exploitation is difficult

[mezzoman253]

I see no mention of Apple products, or did I just miss them? Sherry and I each have a 2015 i5 iMac.

Quote from The Register dated 20/11/2017.   "It's not thought Apple x86 machines are affected as they do not ship with Intel's ME, as far as we can tell."

 

HTH

 

Rob

[RFS]

Here's the Intel page about the problem.

 

https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/support/articles/000025619/software.html

 

There are links to the various suppliers, if you built the PC yourself then you should follow the link to the motherboard supplier.

 

Brian

 

On this page there's a link to a detection tool you can download that will tell you if your PC has the vulnerability or not.