Intel Releases Spectre Patches for More CPUs

[Faybert]

Intel has released firmware updates that fix the Spectre vulnerability for many of its processors and patches for dozens more are nearly ready for use in production environments.

After the first round of microcode updates released by the company caused problems for many users, including more frequent reboots and unstable systems, Intel started working on a new set of patches that should address these issues.

The company first released new firmware updates for its Skylake processors, but on Tuesday it announced that patches are now also available for Kaby Lake, Coffee Lake and other CPUs. This includes 6th, 7th, and 8th generation, and X-series Intel Core products, as well as Xeon Scalable and Xeon D processors used in data center systems.

As of February 21, the following products have Spectrefirmware patches ready for use in production environments: Anniedale/Moorefield, Apollo Lake, Avoton/Rangeley, Broxton, Cherry View, Coffee Lake, Cougar Mountain, Denverton, Gemini Lake, Kaby Lake, Knights Landing, Knights Mill, Skylake, SoFIA, Tangier, Valleyview/Bay Trail, and XGold.
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[ForgottenSeer 69673]

I still don't see anything for my Haswell Pentium G3220. Wonder if they are even going to bother with this old CPU? And all the Haswell's listed are Beta

 

[Solarquest]

www.theregister.co.uk/2018/02/21/intel_spectre_2_microcode_patch

 

[AtlBo]

Anyone checked out the securityweek.com link in the first post? I get rampant CPU usage when I click on the link. Cryptominer?

 

[upnorth]

My CPU idle on 3-5% for that site.

 

[AtlBo]

Thanks for checking. I just tried on another computer, and it doesn't seem to be an issue on that PC. Only difference I can see is that I was logged on to a Disqus account on the affected computer for making comments. Maybe that accounts for the issue, but it seem like mining to me. Anyway, I had forgotten about that Disqus account, so I went and hopefully deleted it once and for all. I was hesitant to set up the account, then I see how it works its way through everything. That was enough for me.

Weird thing. I show up logged out on Disqus now but it's still happening. In the activity indicator at the bottom of Chrome (bottom left), it shows Chrome cycling through the extensions one after the other like this...waiting on HTTPS, waiting on PB, waiting on UBO....the cycle is completing about every second then over and over. The page never resolves...spinning circle in the tab lol. No idea what could be causing it, but I doubt it's a miner. Some kind of code resolution issue in Chrome I guess. Still leaves me wondering what could trigger the issue, since it only happens on this one page...

 

[upnorth]

@AtlBo My advice since I been hit by miners but managed to kill them is to download msert Safety Scanner - Windows Defender Security Intelligence and one or two other of your own choise. Start the PC in safe-mode and let the scanners do a Full Scan. That might take awhile but if you find something it's worth the time. Could help you tweak your filters.

 

[ForgottenSeer 69673]

@AtlBo My advice since I been hit by miners but managed to kill them is to download msert Safety Scanner - Windows Defender Security Intelligence and one or two other of your own choise. Start the PC in safe-mode and let the scanners do a Full Scan. That might take awhile but if you find something it's worth the time. Could help you tweak your filters.

are you selecting full scan or quick?
Does this scanner have something Windows Defender doesn't?

 

[upnorth]

I select Full Scan and I can't conclusively say that msert has something Defender dosen't as I done too few tests.

 

[soccer97]

I select Full Scan and I can't conclusively say that msert has something Defender dosen't as I done too few tests.

Have you tried Windows defender offline?

 

[upnorth]

Have you tried Windows defender offline?

This one? https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/help/17466/windows-defender-offline-help-protect-my-pc

 

[ForgottenSeer 69673]

www.theregister.co.uk/2018/02/21/intel_spectre_2_microcode_patch

When you go to this link and click on the here link you are brought to an Intel login page.
Intel said the firmware is in beta mode for Sandy Bridge, Ivy Bridge, Haswell and Broadwell. The microcode patch update schedules for the chips are here.