How to check if your PC is protected from the Meltdown and Spectre exploits

[tim one]

Here are the steps to determine if your Windows 10 PC is still vulnerable to the Meltdown and Spectre exploits, and we'll also tell you what to do if you're not protected.

How to check if your PC is protected from the Meltdown and Spectre exploits

 

[frogboy]

Thanks a nice little tip there my friend.

 

[Prorootect]

Protect your Windows devices against Spectre and Meltdown: on microsoft.com: https://support.microsoft.com/en-sg...your-windows-devices-against-spectre-meltdown

 

[Iapepe]

'Meltdown' and 'Spectre' guidance
'Meltdown' and 'Spectre' guidance - NCSC Site

 

[In2an3_PpG]

According to this i am protected. Thanks for sharing that article.

 

[amico81]

thx for sharing

 

[frogboy]

According to this i am protected. Thanks for sharing that article.

Very good news then.

 

[GonzitoVir]

According to Ashampoo's Spectre Meltdown CPU checker, I'm protected for Meltdown but no for Spectre.

 

[frogboy]

According to Ashampoo's Spectre Meltdown CPU checker, I'm protected for Meltdown but no for Spectre.

The same here.

 

[AYIZEB]

protected

 

[AtlBo]

I am getting an error message on every PC I try this on here for W7 x64. Anyone have an idea of what might be blocking the command? I turned off monitoring of command-line heuristics in Comodo Firewall. That didn't help. I'm not getting any alert from any security application.

Here is the error:

The term 'Install-Module' is not recognized as the name of a cmdlet, function, script file, or operable program. Check
the spelling of the name, or if a path was included, verify that the path is correct and try again.
At line:1 char:15
+ Install-Module <<<<  SpeculationControl
    + CategoryInfo          : ObjectNotFound: (Install-Module:String) [], CommandNotFoundException
    + FullyQualifiedErrorId : CommandNotFoundException

 

[Deleted member 65228]

I am getting an error message on every PC I try this on here for W7 x64.

You're using an older version of PowerShell. The command isn't supported on the version you're running.

 

[upnorth]

According to Ashampoo's Spectre Meltdown CPU checker, I'm protected for Meltdown but no for Spectre.

The same here.

With a AMD CPU you shouldn't need to worry that much, Quote : " AMD has published a statement clarifying that one (branch target injection) of the two Spectre variants doesn't impact its processors, and the second variant (bounds check bypass) can be resolved through a software update. ".

Quote : " it's still primarily an Intel problem. "

Source : How to check if your PC is protected from the Meltdown and Spectre exploits

 

[Daljeet]

When I heard meltdown and specter vulnerabilities from MT than I made few changes and understanding the upcoming problems with this meltdown and specter. I checked through PowerShell now Microsoft patch is installed from that day thanks to MT and MT reporters for posting this news.

 

[AtlBo]

You're using an older version of PowerShell. The command isn't supported on the version you're running.

Not sure I want to go so far as updating Powershell if there is one. I have always felt it was a fail to have more than one app that can handle scripts on a PC, so I don't know. Thanks for the information.

 

[upnorth]

I am getting an error message on every PC I try this on here for W7 x64. Anyone have an idea of what might be blocking the command? I turned off monitoring of command-line heuristics in Comodo Firewall. That didn't help. I'm not getting any alert from any security application.

Here is the error:

The term 'Install-Module' is not recognized as the name of a cmdlet, function, script file, or operable program. Check
the spelling of the name, or if a path was included, verify that the path is correct and try again.
At line:1 char:15
+ Install-Module <<<<  SpeculationControl
    + CategoryInfo          : ObjectNotFound: (Install-Module:String) [], CommandNotFoundException
    + FullyQualifiedErrorId : CommandNotFoundException

You're using an older version of PowerShell. The command isn't supported on the version you're running.

Correct! Solved by updating PowerShell but please be aware that previous lockdowns on PowerShell will be reverted so you might have to do that again after the test.

PowerShell update : Download Windows Management Framework 5.1 from Official Microsoft Download Center

 

[AtlBo]

Correct! Solved by updating PowerShell but please be aware that previous lockdowns on PowerShell will be reverted so you might have to do that again after the test.

PowerShell update : Download Windows Management Framework 5.1 from Official Microsoft Download Center

@upnorth, thanks for the reminder.

 

[codswollip]

For those who installed KB4056898... can it be uninstalled afterward?

I'm good to wait this out for now... Maybe if I were a banking institution with a server farm I'd be concerned, but as there are zero exploits here, and it's unlikely I'll be near the top of the targeted systems, this seems to be a whole lot about nothing... why should I cripple my PC?

 

[plat1098]

Curious to know whether anyone is giving serious thought to NOT applying the Intel microcode for the Spectre flaw, particular if one has a Haswell or earlier CPU and is running other than Windows 10. This would be due to anticipated marked reductions in system performances. Anyone? I will admit: it's crossing my mind more than once, it's a real dilemma for some. Just waiting for more solid information, right?

 

[Deleted member 65228]

it's crossing my mind more than once, it's a real dilemma for some

Make a backup.

If the update causes bad performance and you would rather performance for security then revert, else don't use the backup. There's not really anything more to be said... Keep your software updated for enhanced protection, or don't have enhanced protection. It really is as simple as that.