Intel and several other processors affected by Memory leak bug

As per researchers there is a memory leak bug affecting several generations of Intel Processors. While the bug is disclosed this week, number of exploits using the memory leak bug are unknown at this time. Microsoft & Several Linux vendors have rushed to release a windows update to mitigate memory leak.

Performance Impact

Part of the patch will cause 5-30% performance degradation of systems and can be noticeable in Server environment. Intel has confirmed this while suggesting this will eventually not be case.

AMD processors are also affected

Initial reports pointed finger on Intel as the only culprit, but Intel came with a press release suggesting the Kernel Memory leak bug affects several devices and processors and not unique to Intel.

You can read Intel’s full press release here –https://newsroom.intel.com/news/intel-responds-to-security-research-findings/

Intel Press Release

Intel and other technology companies have been made aware of new security research describing software analysis methods that, when used for malicious purposes, have the potential to improperly gather sensitive data from computing devices that are operating as designed. Intel believes these exploits do not have the potential to corrupt, modify or delete data.

Recent reports that these exploits are caused by a “bug” or a “flaw” and are unique to Intel products are incorrect. Based on the analysis to date, many types of computing devices — with many different vendors’ processors and operating systems — are susceptible to these exploits.

Intel is committed to product and customer security and is working closely with many other technology companies, including AMD, ARM Holdings and several operating system vendors, to develop an industry-wide approach to resolve this issue promptly and constructively. Intel has begun providing software and firmware updates to mitigate these exploits. Contrary to some reports, any performance impacts are workload-dependent, and, for the average computer user, should not be significant and will be mitigated over time.

Intel is committed to the industry best practice of responsible disclosure of potential security issues, which is why Intel and other vendors had planned to disclose this issue next week when more software and firmware updates will be available. However, Intel is making this statement today because of the current inaccurate media reports.

Check with your operating system vendor or system manufacturer and apply any available updates as soon as they are available. Following good security practices that protect against malware in general will also help protect against possible exploitation until updates can be applied.

Intel believes its products are the most secure in the world and that, with the support of its partners, the current solutions to this issue provide the best possible security for its customers.

Trump administration proposing to end H1B extensions

It appears at least a section of the Trump administration is working on reducing the effectiveness of H1B visa program. The target here is American Competitiveness in the 21st Century Act (AC21), which was passed with bipartisan support in 1998.

AC21

Sections of the act allows H1B works to continue working in United States, while they are waiting for a Green Card. Currently it takes 12-15 year for Indian immigrant to obtain Green Card, i.e. after they have qualified and have a approved petition. This is primarily due to annual limits  set per country. Countries like Pakistan and Srilanka enjoy quicker turnaround (less than 6 months) as there is not qualified candidates from these countries and per country limit is not based on the population of the original country.

Current Law & Tweaks

As H1B in its original form allowed candidates upto a maximum of 6 years, AC21 allowed candidates who have approved I140 (Permanent resident), but awaiting country quota. While a legislation is needed to change this condition, Trump administration doesn’t have enough votes. Hence tweaking of the wording of the document is being considered. Eitherway the end result might be mass deportation of nearly half a million well paid H1B candidates.

Impact

While most of them might continue to perform the same job from their home country, this will impact local property values, property taxes,  Social security taxes etc. At an average these individuals and families contribute to the local economy and will set a path where companies might move their offices to countries with less restriction.

Trump and conservatives are advocating socialism, minimum wage for USA

Background

It might sound ridiculous and hypocritical, but Trump and Bannon army are advocating Socialism in Technology sector and in a bad way.  Currently USA has one of the most vibrant technology sector thanks to immigrants and employer’s ability to hire someone right out of college even if they are in remote part of the world.  This gave rise to the likes of Sundar Pitchai and Satya Nadella (Both H1B candidates), who run two biggest brands in Technology.

Minimum wage for low level employee

It is widely known conservatives hate minimum wages when it is applied to waiters, store clerks and other low paid jobs. Setting a minimum wage of $15 per hour seems to throw everything off balance for conservatives. The main argument being, not to interfere in Business liberty and  market will determine the salaries. On the other hand same conservatives and Trump in particular enjoy benefits of imported labor under H2 Visas.  These low wage workers make less than $12 per hour, or less than $25,000 per year.

Minimum wages for Tech Industry

While the conservatives hate minimum wages when it comes to the poor, they want to fix minimum wage of $100,000 ($41.6/hour)  for the tech industry. Currently an average H1B makes $85,000 per annum ($35 per hour). Tech industry is booming in USA and the industry averages nearly 2 times the salaries in rest of the world.

Possible motives

The only reason for the minimum wage is hatred towards Tech industry, which is generally considered liberal in their ideology.  This is way for Trump’s team to kill the Tech industry and probably replace with low paying coal or manufacturing industry.

Other standout reason being, the more successful folks in the industry are recent immigrants from Asia and India in particular. With the anti immigrant narrative, any action on people of color will rally the base, while destroying a liberal sector.

End Result

Companies like Apple have already moved their manufacturing  and their tax headquarters  out of USA, it wouldn’t take much time to move the development headquarters to Canada, Mexico and India in near future. Already all Top 20 Software giants have more than 1 center in India, all the displaced employees and the jobs will be easily accommodated out of USA. Trump is just giving a reason to do so.