AMD, Google, and Microsoft share CPU flaw perspectives

[DanceswithUnix]

Going off-topic, but from the MS link in the article: "Microsoft recommends all customers protect their devices by running a supported anti-virus program". I thought they'd stopped recommending that recently with w10, and claiming defender was enough?

Can't remember the details, but MS did drop the ball quite badly not that long ago with Defender. I don't think that makes them worse than most of the competition though, and there is a case that Defender slots into Windows by design whereas the 3rd party AV products claw their way in with horrible hooks that introduce new ways to attack the system.

It is also an interesting thought that the huge performance drain of AV products on things like file open calls to the OS probably make the Meltdown patch not so bad in comparison.

[scaryjim]

... It is also an interesting thought that the huge performance drain of AV products on things like file open calls to the OS probably make the Meltdown patch not so bad in comparison.

Not just AV programs either - there's an anti-malware component in Chrome (software report tool, iirc) that caused Chrome & Defender combined to hit ~80% CPU load on my laptop recently thanks some kind of conflict. And on an oldish AMD laptop that gets hot, noisy and slow...

[DanceswithUnix]

Not just AV programs either - there's an anti-malware component in Chrome (software report tool, iirc) that caused Chrome & Defender combined to hit ~80% CPU load on my laptop recently thanks some kind of conflict. And on an oldish AMD laptop that gets hot, noisy and slow...

So Chrome detected Windows as malware? <bites lip...>

[Mr_Jon]

Can't remember the details, but MS did drop the ball quite badly not that long ago with Defender. I don't think that makes them worse than most of the competition though, and there is a case that Defender slots into Windows by design whereas the 3rd party AV products claw their way in with horrible hooks that introduce new ways to attack the system.

It is also an interesting thought that the huge performance drain of AV products on things like file open calls to the OS probably make the Meltdown patch not so bad in comparison.

Yeah, I know there was a time when they were explicitly saying to use a 3rd party AV as defender wasn't capable - but I'm sure I'd read recently that they were saying that it is enough by itself now (ie it's on a par with 3rd party AV).

[scaryjim]

So Chrome detected Windows as malware? <bites lip...>

Or vice versa...

[MLyons]

Or vice versa...

Or edge detected chrome

[Xlucine]

Do we have a list of compatible AV ?
Whilst I appreciate that they have built in a checker, I don't want to run the risk of killing my system...

The register have given this link:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets...sle=true#gid=0

[FRISH]

My main account couldn't log in after the windows update which was a real pain >.>. None of the suggested fixes seemed to work so just decided to make a new one and redo all of my settings.

[Tunnah]

My main account couldn't log in after the windows update which was a real pain >.>. None of the suggested fixes seemed to work so just decided to make a new one and redo all of my settings.

Wait, wut ? What's this about login issues.

I've been needing a reinstall of windows for forever, but I've been putting it off because of all the faff that goes into it. I'd rather not be forced into it if this update will screw things up

[DanceswithUnix]

Wait, wut ? What's this about login issues.

I've been needing a reinstall of windows for forever, but I've been putting it off because of all the faff that goes into it. I'd rather not be forced into it if this update will screw things up

Occasionally Windows stuffs up a user's configuration, so I expect it is just fluke that it happened during this update. Could happen any time, whether or not you do your reinstall, so don't stress over it.