The OS software that runs the Apple products iPads and iPhones had its new update released on Monday which will patch the security hole made by the vulnerability ‘Spectre’.
Recently two major security vulnerabilities were found in the kernel of the processing microchips produced by Intel, ARM and AMD. The vulnerabilities were named Meltdown and Spectre.
The Bugs
According to the cyber security researchers who discovered the bugs, Meltdown is a vulnerability that micro-architecturally hack and reveals the target processor’s physical memory utilizing and controlling the out of order executions, while Spectre breaks the isolation limits between applications using native codes.
In simple terms these bugs exploit how processors predict and carry out different tasks, leaving sensitive data vulnerable to a cyber attack that can reveal confidential and private information on people’s devices.
These flaws have the potential to affect almost all computers, tablets and smartphones.
This discovery has caused tech firms like Apple, Microsoft, Google and others to scramble, develop and issue patches to prevent cyber criminals from taking advantage of these vulnerabilities.
Patches
A KAISER patch is being extensively used as mitigation to counter Meltdowns, but is not effective against the Spectre bug.
Linux Linux developers released a patch instrumenting Kernel Page Table Isolation, KPTI.
Windows While a Windows 10 patch has already been released by Microsoft, patches for older versions of Windows are coming out as well.
Google Android security patches of Pixel/Nexus have been released.
Google has also mitigated their Chrome browser by turning on the site isolation feature.
Apple The patch MacOS High Sierra 10.13.2 will be enhanced after the release of MacOS 10.13.3.
iOs updates for Apple TV and Apple Watch were also released by the tech giant. According to Apple a patch for Safari web browser will be released on Thursday.
Make sure to opt for these iOS updates to guard your systems against attacks.
