Spectre is a security vulnerability that affects modern computer processors, allowing unauthorized access to sensitive information. Discovered in 2018, it exploits the way processors optimize performance through a technique called speculative execution. This means that even if a program is not supposed to access certain data, it can still be retrieved by an attacker.
The vulnerability impacts a wide range of devices, including personal computers, smartphones, and cloud servers. To mitigate the risks associated with Spectre, software and firmware updates have been released by various companies, including Intel, AMD, and ARM. Users are encouraged to keep their systems updated to protect against potential exploits.