In January, we became aware of 2 new security vulnerabilities, known as Spectre and Meltdown, which affect modern computer processors used by all operating systems. When exploited, these vulnerabilities could allow an attacker to obtain access to sensitive information. The Meltdown bug can defeat the security boundaries normally enforced by CPU hardware found in desktops, Macs, laptops, and servers. Spectre is a processing flaw that can be exploited by an attacker to force a program to reveal its data and it affects desktops, Macs, laptops, servers, and smartphones.
ITS technical staff is actively working to implement patches and updates to all affected Pace computer hardware. We also strongly recommend that anyone who owns any of the affected devices mentioned above check with their respective computer/device vendor to learn how to best protect themselves and their personal equipment. To learn more about these security vulnerabilities, please visit the US-CERT.gov website.