Intel makes CPUs or Computer Processing Units. CPUs make everything happen, they are the brains of the machine.

i7’s, i5’s, i3’s, Xeon’s, Cores, Threads, and all the other computer jargon is hard to learn for some. I am going to try and dissect the fancy foreign language of computers so that you can understand an issue that may affect every computer you own.

Intel just released news that there is a security issue with almost every processor they have released in the last two decades. This means that any unprotected Intel device’s data could be taken by hackers.

This issue occurs with the Kernel. The Kernel is a program that manages the communication between the operating system and the physical device MacOS, Windows, or Linux.

The bug is that there is unprotected data that can be read straight from the processor’s memory. Things like passwords, security keys, encryption keys, and more could be read. It occurs on any operating system: However, the real problem is not the bug anymore, it’s the patch.

The fix for the issue could hinder processor efficiency by anywhere from 5% – 50%; older processors are going to be on the higher end of that spectrum. This means many older generation Apple or Windows devices are going to be impacted to the point that they are useless and can no longer run applications correctly.

Also expect to see increased delays when loading webpages or accessing information stored on the cloud, as most servers are going to be affected. To protect any sensitive data be sure to keep your system up to date with the latest updates from your respective operating system.