Intel speaks after critical processor exploit found

The tech world has been inundated with reports after it emerged that there was a major security flaw with Intel’s range of processors.

The flaw, which could be used to gain access to sensitive data on computers, affects Windows, Mac and Linux platforms. This has resulted in platform-holders scrambling to issue patches.

Now, Intel has spoken out on the issue, claiming that it isn’t specific to Intel and that AMD and others are affected as well.

“Recent reports that these exploits are caused by a ‘bug’ or a ‘flaw’ and are unique to Intel products are incorrect. Based on the analysis to date, many types of computing devices — with many different vendors’ processors and operating systems — are susceptible to these exploits.”

Intel has been in the headlines this week after a major processor exploit was discovered

The firm said that it was working with “many technology companies, including AMD, ARM Holdings and several operating system vendors, to develop an industry-wide approach to resolve this issue promptly and constructively”.

It adds that it has provided software and firmware updates in the meantime to “mitigate” the exploits.

The original reports also claimed that updates to fix the issue would result in slowdown of between 17% and 23%, depending on the workload. Intel hasn’t quite denied this…

“Contrary to some reports, any performance impacts are workload-dependent, and, for the average computer user, should not be significant and will be mitigated over time.”