Intel discovers chip flaw
Company says malicious programmers could exploit problem
November 10, 1997: 6:47 p.m. ET
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Intel
ÿ PALO ALTO, Calif. (Reuter) - Intel Corp. said Monday it found a design flaw in its Pentium computer chip that could be exploited by malicious programmers to crash personal computers and network servers.
The flaw occurs in the Pentium and Pentium with MMX microprocessors, two of the most common chips found in personal computers worldwide, the company said.
But PC users would not encounter the flaw in everyday use. A programmer would have to intentionally issue a specific command to freeze the PC's operation.
Intel said it is moving quickly to fix the flaw because of the amount of concern it has raised during the weekend. CNET, an online technology publication, first reported the flaw Friday afternoon.
"We are doing this on an accelerated timeline," said Tom Waldrop, Intel spokesman. "It's gotten a lot of attention and it could raise a lot of concern."
On Internet newsgroups -- sections on the worldwide computer network where people discuss various issues -- some postings claimed that the flaw could be exploited to sabotage servers, the central computers that control the flow of information through networks.
But Waldrop said it would be unlikely to issue the illegal command through the Internet to sabotage PCs remotely.
An afflicted PC would "freeze" and not operate until it is turned off and turned back on.
Intel, based in Santa Clara, Calif., learned a painful lesson about chip flaws three years ago when some users discovered that the Pentium could not perform some math functions correctly.
Intel initially argued that the flaw was minor, but eventually had to backtrack and agree to replace the bad chips, taking a substantial hit to its earnings.
Waldrop said Intel probably will find a fix for the latest flaw within a week. The company will work with software companies and PC makers to distribute the fix.
Intel's stock was down 2-5/16 at 75-1/8 on the Nasdaq market. |
