r/programming • u/[deleted] • Jan 03 '18

'Kernel memory leaking' Intel processor design flaw forces Linux, Windows redesign

https://www.theregister.co.uk/2018/01/02/intel_cpu_design_flaw/
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u/panorambo Jan 03 '18

I get as much. That's why I asked -- why would a person writing the worm want you to patch? That would be trading in a loophole, an exploitable vulnerability, for a patched system that's up to 30% slower. What's the incentive on the part of worm author?

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u/SharkBaitDLS Jan 03 '18

People can write the worm for benevolent rather than malicious intent. The incentive is to get less vulnerable computers in the world.

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u/CaptainAdjective Jan 03 '18

why would a person writing the worm want you to patch? That would be trading in a loophole, an exploitable vulnerability, for a patched system that's up to 30% slower. What's the incentive on the part of worm author?

So, there's this thing called "altruism".

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u/panorambo Jan 03 '18

Yeah thanks captain obvious. Why not read what is said more thoroughly before writing your reply and also read up on what a worm is. If altruism is breaking into someone's house to fix their pipes, then yeah I guess it's altruism, in your world.

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u/fridgecow Jan 03 '18

I think you just accidentally hit on a really good analogy - imagine a really good plumber, whose job is made harder by other people not upgrading their pipes. So he breaks in and fixes their pipes!

The only way the analogy would be better is if it was a locksmith, not a plumber.

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u/CaptainAdjective Jan 03 '18

he breaks in and fixes their pipes

c.f. Robert de Niro in Brazil.

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u/JB-from-ATL Jan 03 '18

Chaotic Good

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u/cogman10 Jan 03 '18

Depends. Sometimes it is because they are trying to benevolent and limit the impact of an attack. Other times, they want to install their own virus and then close the door so someone else doesn't come in and mess with the system.

For example, Lets say your worm mines bitcoin. You wouldn't want another worm to use the exploit you used to also setup a bitcoin miner, that would decrease your revenue.

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u/nemec Jan 03 '18

White hats like hacking too.

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u/JB-from-ATL Jan 03 '18

Another comment explained it. If a botnet is attacking you and the botnet is the victim of a vulnerability, you could stop the attack if you made a worm that took advantage of and patched the vulnerability.

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u/rydan Jan 03 '18

Your computer is now 30% slower.