Apple’s SLAP and FLOP: A Comedy of CPU Errors or Just a Minor Inconvenience?
Academic researchers have unveiled SLAP and FLOP, two new CPU side-channel attacks affecting millions of Apple devices. These attacks exploit vulnerabilities in Safari and Chrome to access sensitive data. Despite the potential threat, Apple remains unfazed, noting the low immediate risk to users. Devices with Intel, AMD, and Qualcomm processors are unaffected.
Hot Take:
Looks like Apple’s devices are getting a little SLAP and FLOP therapy, but not the kind you’d want. It’s like when your favorite restaurant gets a health inspection fail—sure, you’ll still eat there, but you might chew a little slower. Apple says there’s no immediate risk, so I guess we’re all just going to pretend these security flaws don’t have an Apple a-day impact, right?
Key Points:
- Two new side-channel attacks, SLAP and FLOP, affect millions of Apple devices.
- SLAP targets MacBooks, iPhones, and iPads released since 2021; FLOP focuses on newer M3 and A17 CPUs.
- Researchers demonstrated data theft through Safari and Chrome browsers.
- Apple acknowledges the findings but downplays the risk to users.
- Intel, AMD, and Qualcomm devices remain unaffected by these attacks.
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