Meltdown is a security vulnerability affecting modern computer processors, discovered in 2017 and publicly disclosed in January 2018. The Meltdown logo was created for the official Meltdown and Spectre website, meltdownattack.com, which serves as the primary information hub for both vulnerabilities. The logo was designed by Natascha Eibl and released under the CC0 public domain dedication, meaning it is free to use without attribution or permission.[1]
Design and History
The Meltdown logo was designed by Natascha Eibl, as confirmed on the official meltdownattack.com website, which states: “Both the Meltdown and Spectre logo are free to use, rights waived via CC0. Logos are designed by Natascha Eibl.”[1] The logo was created for the public disclosure of the vulnerability in early January 2018, alongside the companion Spectre logo.
According to an interview with the researchers who discovered the vulnerability, the logo concept was developed collaboratively. Werner Haas, one of the researchers, explained that the idea behind the Meltdown logo was “something that is melting, for example a wall, a barrier, a no-entry sign.”[2] The team reviewed three or four logo options before selecting the final design.[2]
The logo is available in multiple formats on the official website, including PNG and SVG versions, both with and without accompanying text, as well as a code illustration variant.[1]
Meaning and Symbolism
The Meltdown logo visually represents the nature of the vulnerability it names. The official website explains the name’s origin: “The vulnerability basically melts security boundaries which are normally enforced by the hardware.”[1] The logo’s melting wall imagery directly illustrates this concept of security barriers breaking down. The name itself was coined by researcher Daniel Gruss, who suggested it because the flaw “basically melts the boundary between software and the operating system.”[2]
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