I recently upgraded my laptop to a 2013 macbook pro (retina display). While on the customization page, I noticed a warning that both RAM and SSD are built-in, and cannot be modified later. Unless I am mistaken, this means that RAM and SSD cannot be removed/exchanged by anyone (because they are a part of the logic board), which could have some interesting effects on security.
For example, an existing firmware password could be reset by removing the RAM. This is not something to worry about if RAM is part of the logic board.
Previous models had removable storage media. Security measures, such as simple user permissions, did very little to help secure sensitive data. Someone with physical access could simply remove the boot device and access its' contents using a different computer. Now that the boot device is integrated into the logic board, accessing it from a different computer is not really an option
I did not readily find any information regarding the impacts that these hardware changes could have on security. I am interested to hear what other people's thoughts are about this, especially from security experts!
Thanks in advance for any input!
For example, an existing firmware password could be reset by removing the RAM. This is not something to worry about if RAM is part of the logic board.
Previous models had removable storage media. Security measures, such as simple user permissions, did very little to help secure sensitive data. Someone with physical access could simply remove the boot device and access its' contents using a different computer. Now that the boot device is integrated into the logic board, accessing it from a different computer is not really an option
I did not readily find any information regarding the impacts that these hardware changes could have on security. I am interested to hear what other people's thoughts are about this, especially from security experts!
Thanks in advance for any input!
