(PDF) Spectre and Meltdown Attacks Detection using Machine

Meltdown and spectre exploits
The article explains the hardware exploits that have been affecting CPUs that have been made
recently. The article gives a detailed explanation on the working of both exploits and is very
insightful making it the most appropriate candidate to be summarized for this topic.
According to the article, meltdown exploit has been there since 2011 and it manipulates the
elements of out-of-order execution in order to change the state of cache of a CPU. That is then
used to dump the contents of memory that are cannot be accessed in a normal environment.
On the other hand, spectre exploit makes use of the speculative execution capability in
conjunction with branch prediction in order to read data that should not be accessible from a
process’ memory. This involves training the branch predictor to always follow one specific path
then, after a number of repetitions, a branch mispredict is used to cause speculative exploitation
of some code that is not supposed to be run.
Most major operating systems have already released a patch for these exploits. However, the
author concludes that the opportunity cost of processors with higher speed is the security.
Therefore, for it to be more secure, we might have to give up on the speed and revert back slower
systems (Walton, J. & Nguyen, T., 2018).
GUI operating system before 1985
The article explains much about the graphical user interface (GUI), its evolution and history. It
also includes some of the mythology and misconceptions that are related to the history and
evolution of GUIs.
From the article we get to know that most people first interacted with a GUI on an Apple
computer. However, the first practical GUI that was usable was released in 1974 in the Xerox
Alto computer. The computer was smaller than mainframes hence considered as a much portable
replacement for mainframe computers. However, generally it was still too big therefore was not
very useful for average users.
Its features included bitmapping display. This was very necessary for displaying graphics. Other
than that, it was also essential for WYSIWYG printing.

This became the basis for the development of the current GUIs for the various operating systems.
Xerox developed better GUI systems from Alto’s designs and concepts. Apple later got the idea
from Xerox and windows from Apple (Tuck, M., 2001).
Low Powered Wide Area Network (LPWAN)
In this resource the author elaborates how essential LPWAN is for internet-of-Things (IoT). The
resource is relevant since it shows the necessity in the emerging technology that is IoT.
Currently available wireless networks are all for selling a high amount of data to their customers
whose devices have a very short lifespan in terms of battery. However, with the adoption of IoT,
more devices will be using the network some of which will require more bandwidth when they
cannot really have data sold expensively. This brings in the need for LPWAN for IoT which will
enable use of low powered data making the whole setup less expensive as compared to what the
current wireless networks use (Teoco, 2017).
Session Initiation Protocol (SIP)
The resource describes and explains SIP as a Voice over IP (VoIP) protocol. The resource gives
a good description of SIP, what it does, how it works and what it uses hence it gives a good
picture of SIP and can therefore be used to learn SIP for someone who previously had no idea.
SIP is a signaling protocol which is generally used for creating, modifying and terminating a
multimedia session over the internet protocol (IP). In simple terms, a session refers to a call
between two endpoints.
SIP is an application layer protocol. It is defined by the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF).
The protocol applies the client server architecture and uses URL and URI from HTTP. It also
uses a text encoding scheme and a header style from SMTP. SIP is assisted by the session
description protocol and the real time transport protocol. The former protocol describes a session
while the latter is responsible for delivering video and voice over an IP network (Tutorials point,
2018).

Blockchain
The resource expounds on blockchain technology to explain what it is and how it works. The
resource was chosen since it gives a clear picture of what blockchain is and the underlying
implementations involved in a blockchain transaction.
A blockchain refers to a structure of data that represents a financial ledger entry or a transaction
record. The transactions are signed digitally to ensure their authenticity and integrity. There are
additional nodes and layers in the infrastructure whose purpose is to provide a consensus on the
state of a transaction at any given second since they all have a copy of the existing authenticated
ledger.
When a new transaction or an edit of an existing transaction occurs in a blockchain, the nodes
execute algorithms that will evaluate and also verify the history of the block. If a majority of
them conclude that it is genuine then the block is added or edited but failure to get consensus
from a majority of the nodes leads to its denial. Hence, it is not added to the chain. This renders
blockchain independent hence no need for a central, unifying authority to authorize
transactions(Hassell, J., 2016).
Net neutrality
The resource speaks of the recently passed laws that scrap away net neutrality. It also expounds
more on net neutrality and the impacts that this will have. This article was deemed the best since
it is recent hence gives the best view and where the issue of net neutrality currently stands and
the current news on what is going on and what is yet to be done.
Net neutrality refers to the principal that all traffic on the internet should be treated equally not
taking into consideration whatever one is doing. It also prevents companies from favoring their
own content over a competitors when it comes to the internet.
With the death of net neutrality, one may not see the effects immediately but with time, the
differences will be noticed. For companies this means that some of the competing small
companies will be throttled by the larger ones since the large companies might favor their own
content. However for an individual, the content of what you see in the internet will gradually
change since providers are now allowed to charge companies that use more bandwidth extra and

also for an extra pay, a provider will give some clients priority as compared to the others
(Reardon, M., 2018).
Jobs likely to be extinct in future
The resource is from a marketing and sales perspective and it analyses the jobs in the marketing
and sales department. The results are given as a percentage with the alternatives that will be used
in future to replace the current positions. The resource gave a good idea of what the general job
market looks like while concentrating on one department hence making it more focused as
opposed to taking on the whole job industry which would have made it more ambiguous since
the possibilities are just too many.
With the rise of artificial intelligence, people are coming up with different opinions. Some are
getting skeptical and worrying that in time, they will not be needed in the industry since their
roles will be automated hence they will lose their positions. However, there are those of the
opinion that the technology will make them better at their jobs and more secure in their careers.
Nevertheless, the truth lies between these two since they are both right. Use of AI will speed
things up and increase the efficiency of work but it is no secret that some jobs will be lost.
In the marketing department people in positions such as receptionists, telemarketers, couriers and
proofreaders are at risk of losing their jobs, to mention just a few (Bernazzani, S., 2017).
Machine learning
This resource defines machine learning, gives the different uses of machine learning and also
states who is currently applying machine learning. The resource was best suited since it gives an
outline and even goes into depth on the application of machine learning hence provides great
insights for someone who has interest on this particular branch of artificial intelligence.
Machine learning refers to a branch of artificial intelligence that has its basis on an idea that
systems have the ability to learn from data, identify patterns and make informed decisions with
very little intervention and interruption from humans.
Machine learning like any other technological advancement is also evolving. Currently there are
algorithms that have automated the application of complex mathematical calculations to big data.

Machine learning can be used can be used to analyze a larger quantity of complex data and
deliver more accurate data faster. Therefore, the use of this technology will spearhead a
company’s success by enabling them avoid unknown risks and identify opportunities that will
generate more profits for them (SAS, n.d).
Programming languages since 2008 (Swift)
The resource is an introduction to the swift language which gives new users of swift an overview
into what to expect from the language. The resource highlights the different features of the
language that make it similar or different from the object-c language that it is replacing to be
used for iOS and OS X programming.
Apple introduced the swift language as a replacement for the object-c language which was
previously being used for developing iOS and OS X applications. The language was introduced
in 2014. The language is very different to object-c and more similar to languages such as Python.
However, the two, object-c and swift, are compatible with each other.
Swift language also offers type inference in that one does not have to type cast a variable during
declaration. A variable’s type is automatically set to the type of the data that it is assigned.
However, one of the constraints of the language is that it is not really any much faster than the
original object-c language. Applications made from the two have just about the same speed
hence it offers no additions in terms of speed (Rubens, P., 2014).
Bots
The resource defines bots and explains what they do. It goes further to outline the future of bots
and how one should respond to bots.
Bots can be said to be software or computers that imitate human behavior. However, bots are
programmed for a specific purpose from which they do not deviate and do not need rest. A bot
can be programmed with an identity of its own which might even be stolen from someone else.
On social media, a real person might post a few times a day and walk away to do other things
however, bots do not need any break therefore, if a social media bot were to be given a
misinformation, they can post about it as much as they can without the risk of getting caught. As

much as bots can be used to cause disparity, it all depends on what they are programmed to do.
Some are actually programmed to unify people on social media.
The bots are programmed differently such that there is a group of bots that do the initial posting
while another group do the propagation to ensure the information or misinformation reaches as
many people as possible. Then there is a different group of bots whose purpose is to
acknowledge and approve the posts by liking and commenting (DiResta, R., Little, J., Morgan,
J., Neudert, L. M., & Nimmo, B., 2017).

References
Bernazzani, S. (2017, July 28). 10 Jobs Artificial Intelligence Will Replace (and 10 That Are
Safe). Retrieved from HubSpot: https://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/jobs-artificial-
intelligence-will-replace
DiResta, R., Little, J., Morgan, J., Neudert, L. M., & Nimmo, B. (2017, November 2). The Bots
That Are Changing Politics. Retrieved from Motherboard:
https://motherboard.vice.com/en_us/article/mb37k4/twitter-facebook-google-bots-
misinformation-changing-politics
Hassell, J. (2016, April 14). What is blockchain and how does it work? Retrieved from CIO:
https://www.cio.com/article/3055847/security/what-is-blockchain-and-how-does-it-
work.html
Reardon, M. (2018, May 16). Net neutrality is all but officially dead. Now what? Retrieved from
CNET: https://www.cnet.com/news/net-neutrality-is-officially-dead-fcc-ajit-pai-now-
what/
Rubens, P. (2014, July 21). 10 Things You Should Know About Apple's Swift. Retrieved from
CIO: https://www.cio.com/article/2456100/mobile-development/10-things-you-should-
know-about-apples-swift.html
SAS. (n.d). Machine Learning. Retrieved from SAS:
https://www.sas.com/en_us/insights/analytics/machine-learning.html
Teoco. (2017, July 27). A Short History of LPWAN, and Why the IoT Can’t Live Without It.
Retrieved from Teoco: http://www.teoco.com/latest/news/blog/short-history-lpwan/
Tuck, M. (2001, August 13). The Real History of the GUI. Retrieved from SitePoint:
https://www.sitepoint.com/real-history-gui/
Tutorials Point. (2018). Session Initiation Protocol - Introduction. Retrieved from Tutorials
Point:
https://www.tutorialspoint.com/session_initiation_protocol/session_initiation_protocol_in
troduction.htm

Walton, J., & Nguyen, T. (2018, January 4). What you need to know about the Meltdown and
Spectre CPU exploits. Retrieved from PCGamer: https://www.pcgamer.com/what-you-
need-to-know-about-the-meltdown-and-spectre-cpu-exploits/