{"id":23012,"date":"2018-10-05T15:11:34","date_gmt":"2018-10-05T19:11:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mjtsai.com\/blog\/?p=23012"},"modified":"2020-09-22T15:40:01","modified_gmt":"2020-09-22T19:40:01","slug":"t2-macs-require-apple-authorized-repair","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mjtsai.com\/blog\/2018\/10\/05\/t2-macs-require-apple-authorized-repair\/","title":{"rendered":"T2 Macs Require Apple-Authorized Repair"},"content":{"rendered":"

Jordan Kahn<\/a>:<\/p>\n

\n

Apple has recently documented a new data recovery process internally for Macs that utilize its T2 chip introduced with the iMac Pro and the 2018 MacBook Pro. The new process for repair staff is being introduced due to the T2 chip’s advanced security features including hardware encryption for SSD storage that isn’t compatible with Apple’s previous data recovery methods used on older machines.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n

Joe Rossignol<\/a>:<\/p>\n

\n

Due to advanced security features of the Apple T2 chip, iMac Pro and 2018 MacBook Pro models must pass Apple diagnostics for certain repairs to be completed, according to an internal document from Apple obtained by MacRumors.<\/p>\n

[…]<\/p>\n

If any of these parts are repaired in an iMac Pro or 2018 MacBook Pro, and the Apple diagnostics are not run, this will result in an inoperative system and an incomplete repair, according to Apple’s directive to service providers.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n

Jason Koebler<\/a> (Hacker News<\/a>):<\/p>\n

\n

The software lock will kick in for any repair which involves replacing a MacBook Pro’s display assembly, logic board, top case (the keyboard, touchpad, and internal housing), and Touch ID board. On iMac Pros, it will kick in if the Logic Board or flash storage are replaced. The computer will only begin functioning again after Apple or a member of one of Apple’s Authorized Service Provider repair program runs diagnostic software called Apple Service Toolkit 2.<\/p>\n

A separate internal training presentation obtained by Motherboard about how to use the diagnostics states that the “Apple Service Toolkit and Apple Service Toolkit 2 are available only to persons working at Apple-authorized service facilities.” This means that it will become impossible for you to repair your new MacBook Pro at home, or for an independent repair provider to repair it for you.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n

Dave Mark<\/a>:<\/p>\n

\n

I can’t imagine, if true, that this is an effort from Apple to keep all those sweet, sweet repair dollars all to themselves. I’d expect this has something to do with protecting the chain of security, preventing malware from somehow gaining a foothold.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n

Previously: Apple Fighting New “Right to Repair” Legislation<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n

Update (2018-10-09): Adam O’Camb<\/a> (Hacker News<\/a>):<\/p>\n

\n

This service document certainly paints a grim picture, but ever the optimists, we headed down to our friendly local Apple Store and bought a brand new 2018 13” MacBook Pro Touch Bar unit. Then we disassembled it and traded displays with our teardown unit from this summer. To our surprise, the displays and MacBooks functioned normally in every combination we tried. We also updated to Mojave and<\/em> swapped logic boards with the same results.<\/p>\n

That’s a promising sign, and it means the sky isn’t quite falling—yet. But as we’ve learned, nothing is certain.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n

Update (2018-10-10): Nick Heer<\/a>:<\/p>\n

\n

Rather than compromising the security and privacy of their products, I’d like to see more progress made on certifying independent technicians and making Apple’s official tools more accessible. The security threat model isn’t the same as it once was; your phone probably has a lot more information on it than your computer of ten years ago. Yes, it’s more complicated to replace parts now, but it’s not entirely because companies like Apple want to lock out independent repair shops. Apple’s diagnostic tools could play a great role in this: imagine if you could take a printed report of a successful repair and type in a serial number on Apple’s website to verify that your device was serviced with genuine parts and passed Apple’s testing.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Jordan Kahn: Apple has recently documented a new data recovery process internally for Macs that utilize its T2 chip introduced with the iMac Pro and the 2018 MacBook Pro. The new process for repair staff is being introduced due to the T2 chip’s advanced security features including hardware encryption for SSD storage that isn’t compatible […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"apple_news_api_created_at":"2018-10-05T19:11:36Z","apple_news_api_id":"8cbf4a36-1467-4d07-a895-b544c79109b2","apple_news_api_modified_at":"2020-09-22T19:40:05Z","apple_news_api_revision":"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABA==","apple_news_api_share_url":"https:\/\/apple.news\/AjL9KNhRnTQeolbVEx5EJsg","apple_news_coverimage":0,"apple_news_coverimage_caption":"","apple_news_is_hidden":false,"apple_news_is_paid":false,"apple_news_is_preview":false,"apple_news_is_sponsored":false,"apple_news_maturity_rating":"","apple_news_metadata":"\"\"","apple_news_pullquote":"","apple_news_pullquote_position":"","apple_news_slug":"","apple_news_sections":"\"\"","apple_news_suppress_video_url":false,"apple_news_use_image_component":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[1607,416,1871,1586,30,100,1609,1860],"class_list":["post-23012","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-technology","tag-apple-t2","tag-applecare","tag-bridgeos","tag-imac-pro","tag-mac","tag-macbookpro","tag-macos-10-14","tag-unauthorized-repair"],"apple_news_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mjtsai.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23012","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mjtsai.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mjtsai.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mjtsai.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mjtsai.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=23012"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/mjtsai.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23012\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":23039,"href":"https:\/\/mjtsai.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23012\/revisions\/23039"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mjtsai.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=23012"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mjtsai.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=23012"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mjtsai.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=23012"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}