Central Processing Units have a design flaw that increases their running speed at the cost of security.
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Meltdown & Spectre CPU bad design
Moderator: scott
Meltdown & Spectre CPU bad design
[MP] Mobiles that perpetuate - external energy allowed
re: Meltdown & Spectre CPU bad design
In the 80's Intel had the Central Processing Unit 8086 like other companies who create the 6502 CPU.
These have been redesigned over the years.
The first great idea was to go away from simple sequence of
fetch data - fetch command - execute command. Then store result.
The idea:
While the CPU was executing the command on data in the CPU
it could also be fetching the next data and command.
This is stored in a little CPU memory instead of fetching it from the main Random Access Memory directly. The rule is the further the distance the longer it take to fetch.
However what happens if the next data is loaded into the CPU RAM is not yours. Like a security passwords?
This is not your data to view - put it is there and is in the CPU.
The other great ides is speculative execution.
The CPU RAM has increased, you can load more data and commands.
So loading the RAM with what is expected to be execution will allow
the run speed to increase.
Well put these together and you can load data that is not yours and copy it.
What is happening now is software referred as the Operating System is being patched.
That means trying to separate the data that is yours from the data that is not in the CPU RAM.
This is my understanding - I am booting an old desktop and run a Linux O/S on it for now.
Regards
These have been redesigned over the years.
The first great idea was to go away from simple sequence of
fetch data - fetch command - execute command. Then store result.
The idea:
While the CPU was executing the command on data in the CPU
it could also be fetching the next data and command.
This is stored in a little CPU memory instead of fetching it from the main Random Access Memory directly. The rule is the further the distance the longer it take to fetch.
However what happens if the next data is loaded into the CPU RAM is not yours. Like a security passwords?
This is not your data to view - put it is there and is in the CPU.
The other great ides is speculative execution.
The CPU RAM has increased, you can load more data and commands.
So loading the RAM with what is expected to be execution will allow
the run speed to increase.
Well put these together and you can load data that is not yours and copy it.
What is happening now is software referred as the Operating System is being patched.
That means trying to separate the data that is yours from the data that is not in the CPU RAM.
This is my understanding - I am booting an old desktop and run a Linux O/S on it for now.
Regards
[MP] Mobiles that perpetuate - external energy allowed
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MrTim
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re: Meltdown & Spectre CPU bad design
I believe it is all just a play (excuse) to make obsolete/discontinue the current CPU's and make people buy the "new and improved" "safer" CPU (and all of the equipment that uses it. $$$.) Which will have better hidden 'spyware' included in it... ;-)
"....the mechanism is so simple that even a wheel may be too small to contain it...."
"Sometimes the harder you look the better it hides." - Dilbert's garbageman
re: Meltdown & Spectre CPU bad design
'Game of Thrones' TV
The game I play is imagine the worst possible thing they can do.
Then check there actions against that possibility.
Then you will not be surprised by their actions.
Regards
The game I play is imagine the worst possible thing they can do.
Then check there actions against that possibility.
Then you will not be surprised by their actions.
Regards
[MP] Mobiles that perpetuate - external energy allowed
Re: re: Meltdown & Spectre CPU bad design
That's called planned obsolescence. The newer generations of CPUs are too powerful and that's not doing the manufacturers any good. Especially Intel.MrTim wrote:I believe it is all just a play (excuse) to make obsolete/discontinue the current CPU's and make people buy the "new and improved" "safer" CPU (and all of the equipment that uses it. $$$.) Which will have better hidden 'spyware' included in it... ;-)