Published: | Updated:

WHAT IS 'VARIANT FOUR' OF THE SPECTRE FLAW?

Google and Microsoft have uncovered a new version of the 'Spectre' computer chip flaw that left hundreds of millions of devices exposed when it was disclosed by Google Project Zoo researchers in January.

Like with other spectre variants, the new flaw is embedded into 'speculative execution' in Intel, AMD and Arm chips. 

Speculative execution is a key part of modern computing in which your computer predicts what might be required of it in the immediate future.

This clever technique allows the CPU to begin completing some tasks before you've even triggered them, which improves device performance.

Spectre flaws reveal otherwise-secure data by tricking the processor into divulging the information it uses to predict your next move.

This lets hackers potentially fool otherwise error-free applications into giving up secret information.

Advertisement

Read articles that feature this panel

Google and Microsoft find a FOURTH Spectre and Meltdown bug that could leak data from everything from your smartphone to your baby monitor

Hackers could exploit the flaw to trick gadgets into revealing sensitive information stored on their memory systems, researchers at...

Most watched News videos