Pretty much every malware program forces an error of some sort and attacks the error handling routines, because routines that are invoked invisibly in the background leave the computer user in ignorance that anything is wrong. Typically forcing a memory stack overflow was a quick way of breaking into a program. Intercept the error handling routine with your own code and then return the computer back to its previous state and no one is any the wiser.
Having a bug at silicon level that can be exploited is a nightmare, but the real cause is programming techniques designed to push the limits in the pursuit of producing the fastest computer. Speculative read ahead caches can really speed up operations, but the majority of the data is just discarded anyway. Therein lies the problem. The operating system is accessing data that it has no right or need to access in the interest of saving a bit of processing time.
So we we suddenly all have computers that will run 20% slower. Sounds like a splendid idea to boost a flagging computer market and raise sales of new faster invulnerable machines, until the next bug is discovered.
The truth is that computers have been fast enough to do everything that most people want to do with them for the last decade or more. There are a few specialist applications that will always swallow whatever power and resources are available, but posting or viewing cat videos on the internet works just as well with a ten year old computer as a new one.
No need to panic. Just install the performance crippling updates when they are released and get in with life. Just don't bother buying a new computer.
Of course aircraft won't be affected in any way at all will they? Nothing on all these fly by wire aircraft running on Intel chips? This story is likely to turn into a very long running saga indeed.
"Open the landing gear doors, Hal."
"I'm sorry Captain, I can't do that, I cannot allow you to land. My job is to keep the aircraft flying and protect it from touching the ground."