Ubuntu disables Intel GPU security mitigations, promises 20% performance boost

Ubuntu will disable Intel GPU security mitigations for Spectre attacks in their upcoming Questing Quokka release, potentially boosting graphics performance by up to 20%. The decision comes after consultation between Intel and Canonical security teams, who determined that kernel-level mitigations make GPU-level protections redundant. Spectre mitigations have accumulated over seven years since the vulnerability's 2018 discovery, significantly impacting graphics performance through restrictions on speculative execution.