The update from Intel addresses vulnerabilities in Broadwell and Haswell processors.
The update from Intel addresses vulnerabilities in Broadwell and Haswell processors.
Intel has issued fresh microcode patches to fix the Spectre Variant 2 issue in older chips, prompting a company-wide pause on earlier solutions. The KB4074588 release demands current antivirus protection; the bundled version from Microsoft appears functional. I powered on my primary system anticipating an upcoming patch. After rebooting, the update now blocks Nvidia drivers due to verification issues in the Windows store. It’s worth noting a recurring frustration with Microsoft updates—my 2015 experience involved losing network access after an update, and later, my DWA-548 adapter stopped working without a verified driver. For more details, see the Intel Spectre fix coverage on zdnet.com, the official support page for KB4074588, and additional insights from Pedro Hernandez on eweek.com. Edited March 4, 2018 by SydneySideSteve
The interface includes options under "Settings" > allow all non-verified apps, warning about unverified apps, and restricting access to only Windows Store apps. Both devices are configured to issue warnings since I need assurance I’m avoiding the Microsoft Store. The fix relies on modifying registry settings for the patch to apply only when a trusted antivirus is installed. If your Sophos Endpoint Security marks all Nvidia apps as not verified in the Windows registry, no patch will be applied.
The BIOS update should likely come directly from the hardware maker, possibly integrated with Windows. A fresh reference has been added to the previous message.