Windows 10: PowerShell script to Check if Your PC Is Protected Meltdown /Spectre

https://www.howtogeek.com/338801/how...n-and-spectre/

Curious if anyone has run this particular script having followed the directions in the article. I am modestly comfortable running PowerShell but the instructions seemed to get deep into the weeds for me and I aborted. I installed a bios update a couple of weeks ago (BIOS Version/Date LENOVO N1UET43W (1.17 ), 12/13/2017) though I do not know if it was made available because of the Meltdown and Spectre debacle. No other updates from either Intel or the manufacturer has been pushed yet though I believe my AV according to the Bitdefender website has pushed a particular registry key that is needed. I have not installed Dec or Jan cum. rollups. TIA.

:)

 

kb4090007 installation

Hi,

I would suggest you check whether you are a victim of the Spectre and Meltdown vulnerability first.

Here's a good guide (I've used the PowerShell module myself)

How to check if your PC is protected from the Meltdown and Spectre exploits

Kind regards,

Leon

 

specter cpu vulnerabe

Hi Rasoul,

Spectre and Meltdown are vulnerabilities in your hardware processors. We recommend that you check
Protect your Windows devices against Spectre and Meltdown. This article provides an overview
of what we are dealing with. It also provides steps, found on links, on how to address our issue.

Keep us updated with the status of the issue and we'll be glad to assist you further.

 

I saw that and got confused. I saw Microsoft's equivalent posting which didn't give enough detail. Then I found Find out if your Windows PC is affected by Meltdown/Spectre vulnerabilities - gHacks Tech News I was able to follow it so it must be pretty straightforward. The end result: two PCs need a BIOS upgrade and are old enough that no such upgrade will be forthcoming. I haven't been brave enough check our laptop. It's new enough that a BIOS update might be available.

 

Hello, *Smile

It's for the NuGet PowerShell script from Microsoft below.

Verifying protections are enabled

To help customers confirm whether protections have been enabled, Microsoft has published a PowerShell script that customers can run on their systems. Install and run the script by running the following commands:

*Arrow Windows Client Guidance against speculative execution vulnerabilities - Windows 10 Forums

 

Brink, I think the problem the OP was referring to was not the purpose of the script but rather the instructions provided at howtogeek. They gave a few helpful comments that were missing in the Microsoft instructions but made the installation process seem needlessly involved. It's actually quite simple.

 

Yeah, I prefer the commands at the link I posted instead. Much simpler.

 

>Brink, I think the problem the OP was referring to was not the purpose of the script but rather the instructions provided at howtogeek. They gave a few helpful comments that were missing in the Microsoft instructions but made the installation process seem needlessly involved.

That's right. I was hoping for a mostly one and done PowerShell execution but the steps seemed to go on and on. Thanks to all who responded. I will check out the alternative solutions tonight.

 

There is an exe posted for the script somewhere... (if that's what's needed)

However, as I have said before... there is a right way and a wrong way... there is method in the madness...

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/...erabilities-in

 

On another matter I was met with a slew of google alerts this morning about the slow down caused by the patch. I have not read the articles yet nor have I applied the patch and in fact the articles might just be a re hash of old news but I am wondering what the general consensus (experience) might be regarding the slow down. As someone who just this past Black Friday purchased a notebook from this century a Lenovo P51 which is quite speedy I was dismayed reading about the bottleneck that the patch may cause though it would seem I have plenty of company. Last computer I had which BTW I am writing from now is a Compaq Presario CQ60-615DX 2.2GHz Intel Celeron processor 900.

Microsoft WARNING - Why crucial Windows 10 and Windows 7 update WILL slow down your PC

https://tinyurl.com/ybvpsdha

Microsoft says Meltdown and Spectre fixes will slow some PCs down significantly

Microsoft says Meltdown and Spectre fixes will slow some PCs down significantly

Performance impact of Spectre, Meltdown patches on Windows

Performance impact of Spectre, Meltdown patches on Windows

 

Understanding performance impact of Spectre and Meltdown mitigations - Windows 10 Forums

 

AFAIK only SSD write speed takes a hit...and only with the firmware 'mitigation codes'... (the Win update on it's own is dormant without that) I doubt you will even notice it tho' - lot's of click-bait stupidity out there - pay no attention. We know everything at TF. *Smile