3 things you can do to protect yourself against the 'Meltdown' and 'Spectre' chip flaws

The bug involves the same sensitive PC parts that anti-virus programs monitor for unusual or malicious activities. As a result, Microsoft's patch may not be compatible with your third-party anti-virus program. If that's the case, you'll have to wait for your anti-virus vendor to release its own update before Microsoft's update becomes available.

I wouldn't disable your anti-virus program so you can download Microsoft's update, as it may not be compatible with the update when you turn the anti-virus program back on.

I myself haven't been able to download Microsoft's update as I'm using a third-party anti-virus program called "Webroot," which hasn't been updated yet.

Apart from the Windows operating system, the Intel chips inside your computer will also need to be updated with new firmware. For chip updates, you'll need to download and install updates that come directly from the manufacturer of your PC.

Manufacturer updates will come in Microsoft's Windows Update feature. If you're unsure about how to install their updates, your best bet is to contact your PC's manufacturer.

Those who assembled their own PCs will have to search for updates for their chips on Intel's website. AMD users can find information and updates from AMD's website.

Web browsers would play a big role for attackers looking to exploit the recent chip bug, and browser developers are issuing updates.

Mozilla, the company behind the Firefox web browser, has begun rolling out updates, as well as Microsoft for its Internet Explorer and Edge browsers. Google is including a patch for the bug in its upcoming update that will roll out on January 23. Apple plans on rolling out an update soon for its Safari web browser.

Some may have browser updates enabled automatically, but those updates may require you to close and re-open your browser. Check your browser's settings to see if it's up to date and whether you need to restart your browser.

Apple already began protecting its computers and users against the potentially harrowing effects of "Meltdown" with updates through the Mac App Store. Be on the lookout for additional updates from Apple for fixes against the "Spectre" bug.