Computer chip problem

[Baldy]

I'm a Linux man too (apart from a gaming pc and android phone). Still potentially troublesome as these exploits are at the processor level - happily we'll probably never know if we've been compromised.

[rary]

I had a computer for the past 18 months that had never been used on the internet, as I bought it as a back-up for the one I am using most of the time the older one runs on Windows 8·1 and the newer one is a windows10 which to be honest I find difficult to work, but would I be better to go on line and update it, or just leave till required?

[JanieB]

I run Linux. If something happens to my PC I'll just pop the DVD in the drive and reimage my machine. Fortunately I automatically get updates to everything running on my computer automatically but security is not a big issue for Linux like it is for M$ Windoze.

Snap, so do I together with Open Office on my laptop. Bit of tangentisation, I have a bit of fun with the scammers who ring me up and tell me that Microsoft have blacklisted me and they can help me sort it out.

[veggiechicken]

Meltdown and Spectre: All Macs, iPhones and iPads affected - BBC News

[Snoop Puss]

As I understand it, it's a chip problem, so it affects computers with the affected chips running Linux too. A patch has been released for Redhat, apparently.

[DannyK]

I had a computer for the past 18 months that had never been used on the internet, as I bought it as a back-up for the one I am using most of the time the older one runs on Windows 8·1 and the newer one is a windows10 which to be honest I find difficult to work, but would I be better to go on line and update it, or just leave till required?

I'd be inclined to regularly update the new one. If you wait till you actually need it who knows how long it'll take to download and then install all the updates. It seems to take ages on regular updates. I've been waiting for three updates for my sister in law's for over 40mins and they've not started downloading yet!
Make sure all updates completed before surfing.
You may be able to rejig how the desktop looks. I found this magazine useful when I was using Windowshttp://http://getcomputeractive.co.u...SAAEgIJ_PD_BwE

[DannyK]

Here's a link to a useful article on the patches.
It has a useful link for Windows users. It seems not all anti-virus software compatible with patch but things are being tweaked.
There's also a link for Linux users.
I've not had any patches for my iMac yet.
https://blog.avast.com/meltdown-and-..._medium=social

[Snoop Puss]

That was interesting, DannyK. The table was especially useful. Time to get updating, methinks. Thanks.