C++ Wage Slave@CppGuy@infosec.space

It's not just #Spectre and #Meltdown — dozens of similar CPU bugs have been discovered since 2018, and they're still being found:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transien

The foundations of modern computing are ricketier than we like to imagine.

In the past, I've always bought a decent computer and held on to it for years and years: it saves money and it's the green thing you do. My main machine right now is seven years old and still going strong. Updating the OS and apps is no problem — I run #Linux. But #CPU bugs make me wonder whether I should replace computers more often for security reasons. I really hope not.

en.wikipedia.orgTransient execution CPU vulnerability - Wikipedia
RealGene ☣️@RealGene@hachyderm.io

Replying to @CppGuy@infosec.space

@CppGuy
CPU vulnerabilities are better dealt with through hygiene ("know your code") than more complex CPUs.

Are you actually a target / have something worth stealing on your computer?

Are you actively working with malware?

Are you running nightlies rather than Stable?

If you answered "no", these 'flaws' are probably not going to affect you.

Right now, I'm more concerned with one of my SSD or hard drives failing, because it would currently cost ~4X to replace them.

I had a DDR stick develop a fault, and fortunately was able to replace it before the RAMpocalypse was beginning to crest. My two-years-out-of-support machine also didn't require bleeding-edge memory.

Jul 5, 2026, 20:00 UTCen