Security flaw means Intel chips 'prone to being hacked' - reports

Windows, Mac and Linux users all affected as a fix goes into development

Intel chips are prone to being hacked due to a flaw that went unnoticed for decades, according to reports.

While the exact details of the flaw are yet to be confirmed, it is believed that it affects all modern Intel CPUs by allowing a hacker the ability to access protected kernel memory data.

The major bug in Intel's processors will affect millions of computers and will require an operating system patch across Windows, Linux and macOS platforms.

Those software patches could slow down PCs by up to 30 per cent, according to some reports.

Mike Godfrey, cyber expert at Insinia Security, told The Telegraph that the flaw could allow hackers a "persistent and undetectable backdoor into someone's computer".

Rival AMD has confirmed that its processors are not affected by the security bug.

"AMD processors are not subject to the types of attacks that the kernel page table isolation feature protects against," said Tom Lendacky, an AMD engineer.

"The AMD microarchitecture does not allow memory references, including speculative references, that access higher privileged data when running in a lesser privileged mode when that access would result in a page fault."

Shares of AMD jumped seven per cent during Wednesday's pre-market session following the security flaw report, while Intel's stock dropped two per cent.

Intel did not respond to CRN's request for a comment before publication.