Apple Shares T2 Security Chip Guide Detailing Privacy Features 'Never Before Seen on Mac'

[Shiro_Simba]

I've had my 2018 MBP since it came out (ordered to replace my 2012 15 inch MBP which had its fans on pretty much continuously) and, knock on wood, I haven't had any crashes. It is a 32GB RAM machine with the 6 core i9 (MacBookPro15,1).

I do use it in clamshell mode 95% of the time with a 2004 30 inch Apple Cinema and a CalDigit hub. It is used a lot - X Code, and a lot of stuff running continuously in the background, so it does get a workout.

I wonder if there is a pattern to machines that have crashes.

As far as microphone, I have an external USB one that works fine. I actually prefer it because it is higher quality if I need to use it (once per year it seems0.

To be honest , I’ve not spent time analysing the issue, but feel for the people who still experience it.

And it will not be the machines themselves , but people’s individual user scenarios. So sadly returning a machine is not the answer - that is the one thing that upsets me about apple, they go out of their way to be green, as seen today, and yet still replace people’s machies knowing that is not the answer, but an interim to please the customer .

 

[twistedpixel8]

20 minutes?

Yeah sorry, I realized I wasn’t taking into account the delay. You’re right, it would take them most of a day. I know some *******s but luckily none willing to troll me quite that hard.

 

[NT1440]

Yeah sorry, I realized I wasn’t taking into account the delay. You’re right, it would take them most of a day. I know some *******s but luckily none willing to troll me quite that hard.

The way I read that part is it would take you DAYS if it’s an hour delay between attempts once you get up to the 20’s and beyond. That’s how I read it that way.

At that point your not talking about an ******* you know, you’re talking about a thief.

 

[twistedpixel8]

The way I read that part is it would take you DAYS if it’s an hour delay between attempts once you get up to the 20’s and beyond. That’s how I read it that way.

At that point your not talking about an ******* you know, you’re talking about a thief.

I’m not sure, it’s a little ambiguous. If it begins the delay after each attempt, then yes. My understanding was that after 14 attempts, there’s a 1 minute delay. You then get 3 undelayed attempts before it begins the 5 minute delay. Then 3 more undelayed attempts before the 15 minute delay and so forth.

If it’s really a delay between every single attempt after 14, then yes, that would be exponentially longer and a non-problem.

 

[pweicks]

I use to have a hard time believing people that claimed their computers would show them ads on the internet based on what they were conversing about with their friend a few hours ago. I had a coworker who claimed that their computer started showing them ads for cat food after they had just talked to their wife about needing to get some cat food at the store. Seemed ridiculous to me. Seeing the amount of effort that Apple is putting into shutting off access to your microphone now has me wondering. This is kinda pissing me off and freaking me out at the same time.

 

[Kabeyun]

Yep, the potential problem is when Apple decides that Apple is the only one that can decide what software I can install on my computers. Much like the iPhone, Apple TV, Apple Watch, and HomePod. Wait that is every device Apple makes excluding the Mac. Apple is just too nanny like for me to be comfortable.

Then enjoy the Wild West of app stores where the host makes no real effort to ensure the stability, safety, or privacy standards of the apps found there. I’ll take app curation every day, especially with mobile devices, especially by a tech company which is head and shoulders above all of the competitors when it comes to caring about my privacy.

 

[Khedron]

Brilliant.

This level of care and respect for its customers is why I love, and buy from, Apple

“Once those [90 failed password] attempts are exhausted, the Secure Enclave will no longer process any requests to decrypt the volume or verify the password.”

Erm... so some idiot could spend 20 minutes deliberately entering the wrong password into your Mac and you permanently lose all your data? Not sure how I feel about this.

Happy. You should feel happy. Not because you lost your data, it because you now know that the person screwing with your computer is somebody you want out of your life.

Plot twist: that person screwing with you turns out to be Apple who "respect" their customers so much they regularly release device-bricking software updates.

 

[nt5672]

Then enjoy the Wild West of app stores where the host makes no real effort to ensure the stability, safety, or privacy standards of the apps found there. I’ll take app curation every day, especially with mobile devices, especially by a tech company which is head and shoulders above all of the competitors when it comes to caring about my privacy.

Oh, I agree for the iPhone, the rest not so much. It is not needed.

 

[Khedron]

Then enjoy the Wild West of app stores where the host makes no real effort to ensure the stability, safety, or privacy standards of the apps found there. I’ll take app curation every day, especially with mobile devices, especially by a tech company which is head and shoulders above all of the competitors when it comes to caring about my privacy.

https://arstechnica.com/information...share-user-location-data-with-tracking-firms/

 

[ralphdonghut]

Is there any proof the kernel panics from the T2 chip have been fixed? I'm a computer novice who needs a new computer but can't be burdened by computer crashes. I'd love to buy a mac mini now but I'm not going to buy anything unless this issue is resolved. I was hoping the Macbook air would not have the T2 chip since I would have the option of buying that in lieu if the mac mini but this appears to not be the case.

 

[fairuz]

One of the lesser known reasons to buy a Mac, all the cutting-edge components that aren't the CPU or RAM. Apple has a unique advantage with this stuff since they control both the hardware and the software.

 

[Kabeyun]

https://arstechnica.com/information...share-user-location-data-with-tracking-firms/

Yes, that’s Guardian story is old news. (You should also read their update, btw.) So are you saying that Apple’s app curation model is just as unsafe as Google Play because a few bad actors snuck buried location tracking code past the screeners? Are you suggesting that Apple is behind this? If not, please clarify your point. If so, here’s a link in return:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whataboutism

 

[jimthing]

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whataboutism

...otherwise known as a non sequitur.

 

[iMacDragon]

I’m not sure, it’s a little ambiguous. If it begins the delay after each attempt, then yes. My understanding was that after 14 attempts, there’s a 1 minute delay. You then get 3 undelayed attempts before it begins the 5 minute delay. Then 3 more undelayed attempts before the 15 minute delay and so forth.

If it’s really a delay between every single attempt after 14, then yes, that would be exponentially longer and a non-problem.

Once delay kicks in every attempt has the current level of delay.

 

[Khedron]

Yes, that’s Guardian story is old news. (You should also read their update, btw.) So are you saying that Apple’s app curation model is just as unsafe as Google Play because a few bad actors snuck buried location tracking code past the screeners? Are you suggesting that Apple is behind this? If not, please clarify your point. If so, here’s a link in return:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whataboutism

You're suggesting Google Play is inherently unsafe? Google is FORCING apps in its store to contain malware? Your bank makes a clean version of its app for iOS but puts in security flaws for its android version?

The reality is Apple's curation is worth little (except to Apple).

 

[Kabeyun]

...otherwise known as a non sequitur.

Implying the Android ecosystem is fine by bringing up a problem with some App Store apps is the definition of whataboutism.

 

[SJ Burnett]

Yep, the potential problem is when Apple decides that Apple is the only one that can decide what software I can install on my computers. Much like the iPhone, Apple TV, Apple Watch, and HomePod. Wait that is every device Apple makes excluding the Mac. Apple is just too nanny like for me to be comfortable.

It also means the end of the road for the Hackintosh as far as future releases of OSX. This is not incidental.

Some, of course, will see this as a good thing.

 

[Kabeyun]

You're suggesting Google Play is inherently unsafe? Google is FORCING apps in its store to contain malware? Your bank makes a clean version of its app for iOS but puts in security flaws for its android version?

The reality is Apple's curation is worth little (except to Apple).

Not to question your arbitration of reality, but no one preferring the curated model is looking at your bank’s app as an example of the hazards of totally open app distribution. You can’t be that obtuse. We’re saying that the absence of reviewing an app before it goes live (usually a couple of hours from upload to availability) allows for an influx of hazardous apps, either due to stability issues or nefarious actors. Not your bank. There are great apps on both platforms.

Also, the Apple Store seems to be better for developers, not just Apple, both in terms of profit and in terms of distribution due to the fragmentation of Android flavor installs. The longer go-live interval (a couple of weeks) and the higher dev fee ($99/year won’t exactly break the bank) seem to be relatively minor thorns.
https://magora-systems.com/app-store-vs-google-play/
https://www.lifewire.com/ios-app-store-vs-google-play-store-for-app-developers-2373130

 

[star-affinity]

It also means the end of the road for the Hackintosh as far as future releases of OSX. This is not incidental.

Some, of course, will see this as a good thing.

Is this something you are certain of or do you only think it's likely? At least Mojave seems to give no such limitations as of yet. Do you mean future versions as in ”next major MacOS version”?

 

[clystron]

Is this something you are certain of or do you only think it's likely? At least Mojave seems to give no such limitations as of yet. Do you mean future versions as in ”next major MacOS version”?

I would guess that the first MacOS version that does not support any non-T2 Macs will be a problem for Hackintoshes....

 

[SJ Burnett]

Is this something you are certain of or do you only think it's likely? At least Mojave seems to give no such limitations as of yet. Do you mean future versions as in ”next major MacOS version”?

I would guess that the first MacOS version that does not support any non-T2 Macs will be a problem for Hackintoshes....

What clystron said. In order to have a Hackintosh run a version of MacOS, the machine must have components selected so that it presents a hardware configuration that closely represents that of a genuine Mac.

Eventually there will be a MacOS version at which the app store will probably interrogate the machine for the presence of a T2 chip, and refuse to download if it doesn't find it. And even if it's possible to circumvent that, the T2 will be so bound into the operation of the OS that it won't run without it.

That won't prevent the Hack running previous versions of MacOS, of course, but it will fall further behind as the OS is updated, and software is written for it.

 

[zen]

Is it possible to turn on the camera without the green LED lighting up? Or is this hardwired somehow.

I believe this has been hardwired on all Apple laptops for a while now - the LED is directly wired to the camera power, so there is no way of activating the camera without the light coming on.

 

[guzhogi]

...do you really think Apple hasn’t thought through one of these use cases?

I have thought it through. I just don't know what they came up with. Did they choose this kind of response:

Dah.... don’t shut it completely.

Or will it only hardware disconnect when it isn't connected to an external display?

 

[outskirtsofinfinity]

What!? Don't tell me someone could possibly have turned my MacBook Pro's microphone on when the lid was closed! If this was even possible, we need a class-action lawsuit.

 

[charlituna]

I have a number of coworkers who use their laptops in clamshell mode, and connected to external monitors. What happens then? Will they have to get external microphones?

If the external display doesn’t have a microphone then yes they might have to get an external. Truth be told if they are doing something for work that needs a Mic they are probably better off not using the internal one cause it’s really not that awesome
[doublepost=1541175594][/doublepost]

What!? Don't tell me someone could possibly have turned my MacBook Pro's microphone on when the lid was closed! If this was even possible, we need a class-action lawsuit.

If you stupidly downloaded some kind of malware anything is possible. Same if you had remote access turned on without knowing what you were doing to prevent any random person from getting it.