3 things you can do to protect yourself against the 'Meltdown' and 'Spectre' chip flaws

intel chip

Now that some of the dust is settling surrounding the discovery of two critical design flaws in computer chips running inside a huge number of devices, we can start looking for ways to protect ourselves.

Fortunately, it shouldn't be too hard for most users to take the required measures to protect themselves from the flaws, which have been named "Meltdown" and "Spectre."

There's one thing to keep in mind, however: You have to update your operating system, the chip inside your computer, as well as your web browser. You can't just pick one, as it won't fully protect you against the bugs.

Still, it's likely that some people with a poor track record of updating their PCs won't take the proper measures. If you know someone who puts off updating their PCs, make sure to show them these steps!

There's been some speculation regarding the updates that will protect PC users against these bugs and a potential impact on performance of their PCs. Little is known so far, but Intel states that the impacts won't be significant and will be "mitigated over time."

See how to protect your PC against "Meltdown" and "Spectre":

1. Update your Windows PC.

Patching up your PC against "Meltdown" and "Spectre" will involve updating Windows 10.

It's possible that Windows' update feature already automatically downloaded and installed the patch, but you may need to restart your computer to finalize the patch.

Either way, you'd do well to check whether any updates are available for your PC. In Windows 10, click the search bar on the bottom left > type "Update" > click "Check for Updates > click "Check for updates" again the the Windows Update menu.

If Windows is showing that it's already downloaded the update, follow the prompts on the screen. It could tell you to install or restart your computer.

If you're using a third-party anti-virus program, you may not be able to install the patch yet.

The bug involves the same sensitive PC parts that anti-virus programs monitor for unusual or malicious activities. As a result, Microsoft's patch may not be compatible with your third-party anti-virus program. If that's the case, you'll have to wait for your anti-virus vendor to release its own update before Microsoft's update becomes available.

I wouldn't disable your anti-virus program so you can download Microsoft's update, as it may not be compatible with the update when you turn the anti-virus program back on.

I myself haven't been able to download Microsoft's update as I'm using a third-party anti-virus program called "Webroot," which hasn't been updated yet.

2. Download any other updates from your PC's manufacturer.

Apart from the Windows operating system, the Intel chips inside your computer will also need to be updated with new firmware. For chip updates, you'll need to download and install updates that come directly from the manufacturer of your PC.

Manufacturer updates will come in Microsoft's Windows Update feature. If you're unsure about how to install their updates, your best bet is to contact your PC's manufacturer.

Those who assembled their own PCs will have to search for updates for their chips on Intel's website. AMD users can find information and updates from AMD's website.

See the rest of the story at Business Insider