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Vulnerabilities such as Meltdown and Spectre are not specifically Linux issues, however they could have a dire effect on Linux machines. I was very surprised to hear that these vulnerabilities could possibly exploit chips that are nearly 20 years old.
It appears to me that developers have the issue with Meltdown well in hand, however I am a bit unclear on Spectre.
Dustin Kirkland of Canonical has posted updates about Meltdown and Spectre. Included in his post is the following:
"Ubuntu users of the 64-bit x86 architecture (aka, amd64) can expect updated kernels by the original January 9, 2018 coordinated release date, and sooner if possible."
CAN perhaps happen now that the vulnerabilities that have been around for "twenty years" have ben publicised for bad hackers to use.
Up to now, no one has reported a single case of anyone taking advantage of the flaw, which, quite honestly, was know and ignored by chip designers for speed reasons, since the flaw was rarely to occur in unforced circumstances.
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