Techmeme
January 3, 2018, 7:30 PM

Top News

Zack Whittaker / ZDNet:
Researchers discover vulnerabilities in most Intel chips and some ARM chips, named Meltdown and Spectre, that let hackers steal data from running apps  —  Most Intel processors and some ARM chips are confirmed to be vulnerable, putting billions of devices at risk of attacks.
New York Times:
Researchers say there is no known fix for Spectre CPU flaw; Meltdown flaw affects almost all Intel CPUs, requires software patch that could cause slowness  —  SAN FRANCISCO — Computer security experts have discovered two major security flaws in the microprocessors inside nearly all of the world's computers.
Google Online Security Blog:
Google's Project Zero says it discovered three variants of CPU attack, affecting AMD, ARM, and Intel; Android devices with latest security update are safe  —  Last year, Google's Project Zero team discovered serious security flaws caused by “speculative execution,” a technique used by most modern processors …
Meltdown and Spectre:
Official webpage for the Meltdown and Spectre CPU vulnerabilities, which has links to research papers and an FAQ  —  Bugs in modern computers leak passwords and sensitive data.  Meltdown and Spectre exploit critical vulnerabilities in modern processors.  These hardware bugs allow programs …
Ina Fried / Axios:
Intel says CPU flaws not limited to its own chips, exploits can't corrupt/modify data but can access sensitive data, is working with AMD and ARM to find fixes  —  A soon-to-be-disclosed and massive chip flaw affects more than just Intel chips, according to both sources familiar with the issue and Intel itself.
Juli Clover / MacRumors:
Intel's memory access design flaw was partially addressed by Apple in macOS 10.13.2, released Dec. 6, with additional tweaks in next update, currently in beta  —  A serious design flaw and security vulnerability discovered in Intel CPUs has reportedly already been partially addressed by Apple …
Tom Warren / The Verge:
Ina Fried / Axios:
Dan Primack / Axios:
Sources: Spotify confidentially filed IPO documents with the SEC at the end of December; indications are the company wants to list in Q1  —  Music streaming giant Spotify confidentially filed IPO documents with the SEC at the end of December, Axios has learned from multiple sources.
Eriq Gardner / Hollywood Reporter:
Mary Jo Foley / ZDNet:
Microsoft acquires Pittsburgh-based Avere Systems, a file storage vendor for Windows and Linux, will integrate its technology with Azure cloud  —  Microsoft plans to integrate Avere's file system and caching technologies for Windows and Linux clients with its Azure cloud.
Johana Bhuiyan / Recode:
Didi Chuxing confirms it has acquired Brazilian ride-hailing company 99, reports say for ~$600M, as it expands into Latin America  —  The ride-hail company is buying Brazilian app 99.  —  Didi is bolstering its international presence in a major ride-hail market: Brazil.
Washington Post:
Sources: since 2015, the NSA has lost several hundred hackers, engineers, and data scientists, due to low pay, slumping morale, and an unpopular reorganization  —  The National Security Agency is losing its top talent at a worrisome rate as highly skilled personnel, some disillusioned …
Davey Alba / BuzzFeed:
Bloomberg:
Sources discuss SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son's often hard-edged dealmaking style as he runs Vision Fund, making some of the largest-ever tech startup investments  —  The Japanese billionaire has changed the startup game with his aggressive investing and enormous checkbook.  Does he know what he's doing?

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Anita Balakrishnan / CNBC: