Apple, or rather a European security firm, recently announced that Apple’s T2 chip (the one that handles security) has a fundamental flaw. This flaw leaves the chip subject to attack and can allow key loggers and other snooping applications to be installed.
This is bad news and what is worse it cannot be patched.
Because the T2 chip is hardware not software this issue is baked in, meaning that unless the chip is physically removed and replaced your Mac remains vulnerable.
No doubt Apple will re-engineer the chip going forward but for the Macs already in the wild… well who knows?!
The Macs effected are as follows:
iMac released in 2020
iMac Pro
Mac Pro released in 2019
Mac mini released in 2018
MacBook Air released in 2018 or later
MacBook Pro released in 2018 or later
To check hardwire version yours, head to the Apple menu and choose About this Mac.
This is not the first time this kind of thing has happened and no doubt it won’t be the last. A little while back a security hole was discovered in INTEL chips that remains open to this day.
The good news is that in order to exploit this security flaw the bad guy needs physical access to your Mac in order to install the necessary code. So this prompts me to stress the importance of NOT giving strangers access to your computer. No matter what they say. No matter who they claim to represent.
The press further it is worth repeating…
Microsoft will never call you out of the blue and want access to your Mac.
Apple will never call you out of the blue and want access to your Mac.
The bank will never call you out of the blue and want access to your Mac.
Telstra will never call you out of the blue and want access to your Mac.
Optus will never call you out of the blue and want access to your Mac.
The ATO will never call you out of the blue and want access to your Mac.
<Insert your favourite business here> will never call you out of the blue and want access to your Mac.
Apologies for labouring this point but it shocking how many fall for these scams.
Please have another look at my scams article. Please print it out and please pass the article to anyone and everyone you know. Let’s put these hat wearing haemorrhoids out of business once and for all.
At least until Apple fixes their security chip.
No, on seconds thoughts… how about we put them out of business permanently!
5 comments
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Thanks for passing on the information about this, Renny. It’s appreciated. Hopefully Apple will arrange to provide a replacement security chip for affected devices once they have resolved the issue.
08 October 2020
Dear Renny,
Hello to you there, and thank you so much for your regular updates over the years, and the very valuable
service you provide to Mac users in Canberra.
I have a 2019 MacBook Pro, and was just purchased recently. I am concerned that my MacBook
may be affected by this hardware problem of a flawed chip, as described in your article. The MacBook
is under warranty.
Do you recommend that I take it back…(?). It seems that they have not resolved the problem, so I don’t
know what to do. I am so tired of these companies like Apple and others, releasing products that have
underlying problems. Damn. They cost enough money for the average Joe, and we now have to
turn around and deal with this and other similar problems.
Kind regards,
Phillip Maguire
I too am interested in the answer to Phillip’s question. I am in a similar situation.
Now slightly worried about my new MacBook Pro. Went to ‘about this Mac’ as you suggested, but I’m not sure what it should be revealing – what am I looking for? No mention of T2 (it has Intel 19).
Great article. Thanks for the info.
So basically what you’re saying is that I should stick with my old coal-fired, horse-drawn, two stroke macbook and soldier on?
Just as well really…and I’m doing my bit for the planet too…saving on all that unnecessary plastic. The Polar Bears will be pleased.