Apple Admitted iOS Devices Are Suffering From Chip Meltdown

Business January 10, 2018

The year 2017 was a rough year for the prestigious Tech Giant Apple after the controversy about slow iPhones broke. The company was quick to address this problem by offering discounted rates for battery replacements and later on, they waived the discounts in favor of replacing it for free. But it seems that the issue of degraded Apple devices has yet to subside because recently, the tech lovers were shaken with Apple’s admission that not only the iPhones but also its Mac and other iOS devices are suffering from a major security flaw.

Apple Inc Admits iOS Devices Are Suffering from a Chip Security Flaw

Apple Admits IOS Devices Are Vulnerable Fom Chip Security Flaw

Apple Admits IOS Devices Are Vulnerable To Chip Security Flaw

The company revealed that the latest updates rolled out on iPads, Macbook, iPhones, even its Apple-TV box were affected with a chip security flaw known as the meltdown. The meltdown phenomena trigger these devices to slow down and downgrade its performance. Because of the slowdown, it damages the batteries like what happened to some iPhone devices. Although the company was quick to reassure the public as well as its loyal customers that no actual data exploitation, hacks, or identity theft have been reported so far.

What’s Happening Behind the Chip Meltdown?

Apple Released an Official Statement About the Said Security Chip Flaw

For those who are wondering what this “chip security flaw meltdown” is, it’s a problem or vulnerability found on semiconductors of a device. There’s a process, program called speculative execution. This chip-based technique is found mostly on Mac devices as well as the Android phones too. When Apple implemented an update on all its software and devices, it caused a glitch in its security system that causes the slowdown performance of devices. The security and the high government offices which mainly use the Apple devices are likely to be the most affected and vulnerable ones for the said flaw. It may compromise not only their operations but also the sensitive data and information they kept.

Apple To Release Updates and Patches to Counter the Security Flaws

Apple to Release Spectre To Counter the Chip Meltdown

Of course, Apple stated that its commitment to serve its customers and protect their data and security is still their number 1 mission. It can be remembered that Apple took pride with its flawless security feature in all of its iOS devices. It seems that their flawless security is being challenged now by this threat. The Apple though assures its customers that this bug will be fixed soon. In fact, they are set to release multiple patches and updates to defend their devices against this security flaw. To start, the Apple Company will release an update for its Safari web browser which contains a security patch known as Spectre to counter the chip meltdown. These software updates will be implemented in the first half of 2018.

What To Do If You Suspect That Your iOS Device Is Infected?

Make Sure to Update Your IOS Devices to Protect It Against Chip Meltdown

If you suspect that your iPhone or other Apple devices are infected and vulnerable to the said security flaw, then here’s what you need to do:

Access the Settings Tab On Your iPhone or iPad devices
Click Updates to determine whether or not your device’s software and OS is up to date.
If it isn’t up to date, we recommend you to update it to the latest version to ensure that you have the latest security installed on your system.
If it’s up to date, then you can leave it be.
If you feel like your iPhone battery or performance is slowing down, then we recommend you to go to the nearest Apple store to have your battery replaced.

Note: Apple Watch isn’t affected by the chip meltdown so far. So you can rest assured that it’s safe from the security flaws.

Additional trivia: Did You Know That Android Phones Are Affected By the Chip Meltdown Too?

Android Phones are Vulnerable to Chip Meltdown Too

Aside from the iOS devices, most Android phones also implement the speculative execution on their chip-based processors. So if you also have an Android device, make sure to update it to the latest OS version to protect your device from any security threat. If you have Google-based Android devices like Pixel or Nexus, then fret not because you’ll be receiving an update in the next couple of days. It’s also recommended that you update your Google Chrome browser (this coming on January 23) since it also offers patches and fixes to protect your Chromebooks.