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    Some New Macs Risk Bricking from Third Party Repairs

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    apple macos mac pc ars technica apple t2
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    • mlnewsM
      mlnews
      last edited by

      Apple’s T2 chip will block some third-party repairs of new devices

      If a certain diagnostic software isn't present, your machine could be bricked.

      Small repair shops and tech enthusiasts who attempt to fix their new Apple devices may be taking a serious risk in doing so. According to a report from The Verge, Apple confirmed that its new T2 security chip is designed to lock down devices after repair if it doesn't recognize certain authorized replacement parts.

      nadnerBN 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
      • G
        Griffin
        last edited by

        wtf...

        travisdh1T 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
        • travisdh1T
          travisdh1 @Griffin
          last edited by

          @Griffin said in Some New Macs Risk Bricking from Third Party Repairs:

          wtf...

          Because Apple is special. Right to repair laws, pfft. Just one of many reasons I don't like Apple.

          scottalanmillerS JaredBuschJ 2 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 1
          • scottalanmillerS
            scottalanmiller @travisdh1
            last edited by

            @travisdh1 said in Some New Macs Risk Bricking from Third Party Repairs:

            @Griffin said in Some New Macs Risk Bricking from Third Party Repairs:

            wtf...

            Because Apple is special. Right to repair laws, pfft. Just one of many reasons I don't like Apple.

            I won't be surprised if this doesn't trigger a lawsuit.

            travisdh1T 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
            • travisdh1T
              travisdh1 @scottalanmiller
              last edited by

              @scottalanmiller said in Some New Macs Risk Bricking from Third Party Repairs:

              @travisdh1 said in Some New Macs Risk Bricking from Third Party Repairs:

              @Griffin said in Some New Macs Risk Bricking from Third Party Repairs:

              wtf...

              Because Apple is special. Right to repair laws, pfft. Just one of many reasons I don't like Apple.

              I won't be surprised if this does trigger a lawsuit.

              ftfy

              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
              • nadnerBN
                nadnerB @mlnews
                last edited by

                @mlnews said in Some New Macs Risk Bricking from Third Party Repairs:

                Apple’s T2 chip will block some third-party repairs of new devices

                If a certain diagnostic software isn't present, your machine could be bricked.

                Small repair shops and tech enthusiasts who attempt to fix their new Apple devices may be taking a serious risk in doing so. According to a report from The Verge, Apple confirmed that its new T2 security chip is designed to lock down devices after repair if it doesn't recognize certain authorized replacement parts.

                Didn't they already get roasted about doing something similar with iPhones?

                1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                • DashrenderD
                  Dashrender
                  last edited by

                  No surprise here - they want everything, even repairs to be at an extreme premium.!

                  1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                  • s.hacklemanS
                    s.hackleman
                    last edited by

                    I'm OK with this one. If someone unauthorized messes with or replaces my fingerprint scanner, I'm OK with my laptop bricking.

                    DashrenderD travisdh1T 2 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 1
                    • DashrenderD
                      Dashrender @s.hackleman
                      last edited by

                      @s-hackleman said in Some New Macs Risk Bricking from Third Party Repairs:

                      I'm OK with this one. If someone unauthorized messes with or replaces my fingerprint scanner, I'm OK with my laptop bricking.

                      I tend to agree - if you're messing with the security features, the system should stop working.

                      scottalanmillerS 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                      • JaredBuschJ
                        JaredBusch @travisdh1
                        last edited by

                        @travisdh1 said in Some New Macs Risk Bricking from Third Party Repairs:

                        @Griffin said in Some New Macs Risk Bricking from Third Party Repairs:

                        wtf...

                        Because Apple is special. Right to repair laws, pfft. Just one of many reasons I don't like Apple.

                        Or, you can pull your heads out of your collective asses and actually think.

                        @s-hackleman said in Some New Macs Risk Bricking from Third Party Repairs:

                        I'm OK with this one. If someone unauthorized messes with or replaces my fingerprint scanner, I'm OK with my laptop bricking.

                        Exactly.

                        scottalanmillerS 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                        • scottalanmillerS
                          scottalanmiller @Dashrender
                          last edited by

                          @Dashrender said in Some New Macs Risk Bricking from Third Party Repairs:

                          @s-hackleman said in Some New Macs Risk Bricking from Third Party Repairs:

                          I'm OK with this one. If someone unauthorized messes with or replaces my fingerprint scanner, I'm OK with my laptop bricking.

                          I tend to agree - if you're messing with the security features, the system should stop working.

                          Except it's someone authorized BY APPLE, not BY YOU. As someone who has had to have this done in a COUNTRY where Apple does not offer authorized service, I am not in any way okay with this.

                          DashrenderD 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 3
                          • scottalanmillerS
                            scottalanmiller @JaredBusch
                            last edited by

                            @JaredBusch said in Some New Macs Risk Bricking from Third Party Repairs:

                            @travisdh1 said in Some New Macs Risk Bricking from Third Party Repairs:

                            @Griffin said in Some New Macs Risk Bricking from Third Party Repairs:

                            wtf...

                            Because Apple is special. Right to repair laws, pfft. Just one of many reasons I don't like Apple.

                            Or, you can pull your heads out of your collective asses and actually think.

                            @s-hackleman said in Some New Macs Risk Bricking from Third Party Repairs:

                            I'm OK with this one. If someone unauthorized messes with or replaces my fingerprint scanner, I'm OK with my laptop bricking.

                            Exactly.

                            If it was authorized by the owner of the phone, I'd agree. As it is, it's BS.

                            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                            • travisdh1T
                              travisdh1 @s.hackleman
                              last edited by

                              @s-hackleman said in Some New Macs Risk Bricking from Third Party Repairs:

                              I'm OK with this one. If someone unauthorized messes with or replaces my fingerprint scanner, I'm OK with my laptop bricking.

                              That's a security issue, not an inability to repair. One of those where if they have time to replace the fingerprint scanner without you knowing it happened, you have bigger issues to correct.

                              Lots of companies have gotten into trouble with this sort of thing. Those "Warranty void if removed or broken" stickers for one.

                              DashrenderD 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                              • DashrenderD
                                Dashrender @scottalanmiller
                                last edited by

                                @scottalanmiller said in Some New Macs Risk Bricking from Third Party Repairs:

                                @Dashrender said in Some New Macs Risk Bricking from Third Party Repairs:

                                @s-hackleman said in Some New Macs Risk Bricking from Third Party Repairs:

                                I'm OK with this one. If someone unauthorized messes with or replaces my fingerprint scanner, I'm OK with my laptop bricking.

                                I tend to agree - if you're messing with the security features, the system should stop working.

                                Except it's someone authorized BY APPLE, not BY YOU. As someone who has had to have this done in a COUNTRY where Apple does not offer authorized service, I am not in any way okay with this.

                                I consider the security of the devices much more important than your inconvenience of having to mail in your device for service.

                                1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                • DashrenderD
                                  Dashrender @travisdh1
                                  last edited by

                                  @travisdh1 said in Some New Macs Risk Bricking from Third Party Repairs:

                                  @s-hackleman said in Some New Macs Risk Bricking from Third Party Repairs:

                                  I'm OK with this one. If someone unauthorized messes with or replaces my fingerprint scanner, I'm OK with my laptop bricking.

                                  That's a security issue, not an inability to repair. One of those where if they have time to replace the fingerprint scanner without you knowing it happened, you have bigger issues to correct.

                                  Lots of companies have gotten into trouble with this sort of thing. Those "Warranty void if removed or broken" stickers for one.

                                  Or those shaddy places that don't replace with like/real parts to give you the same level of security you had before the breakage. Then you end up with a potential security issue, yeah no.

                                  travisdh1T 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                  • travisdh1T
                                    travisdh1 @Dashrender
                                    last edited by

                                    @Dashrender said in Some New Macs Risk Bricking from Third Party Repairs:

                                    @travisdh1 said in Some New Macs Risk Bricking from Third Party Repairs:

                                    @s-hackleman said in Some New Macs Risk Bricking from Third Party Repairs:

                                    I'm OK with this one. If someone unauthorized messes with or replaces my fingerprint scanner, I'm OK with my laptop bricking.

                                    That's a security issue, not an inability to repair. One of those where if they have time to replace the fingerprint scanner without you knowing it happened, you have bigger issues to correct.

                                    Lots of companies have gotten into trouble with this sort of thing. Those "Warranty void if removed or broken" stickers for one.

                                    Or those shaddy places that don't replace with like/real parts to give you the same level of security you had before the breakage. Then you end up with a potential security issue, yeah no.

                                    The point is, Apple is not giving you the choice. I don't take my stuff to anyone else to fix because I'm a competent bench tech as well. I wouldn't be allowed to fix any Apple device myself if they continue down this road.

                                    If you're ok with not owning the device, that's just fine for you. Don't take away options for everyone else.

                                    DashrenderD 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                                    • DashrenderD
                                      Dashrender @travisdh1
                                      last edited by

                                      @travisdh1 said in Some New Macs Risk Bricking from Third Party Repairs:

                                      @Dashrender said in Some New Macs Risk Bricking from Third Party Repairs:

                                      @travisdh1 said in Some New Macs Risk Bricking from Third Party Repairs:

                                      @s-hackleman said in Some New Macs Risk Bricking from Third Party Repairs:

                                      I'm OK with this one. If someone unauthorized messes with or replaces my fingerprint scanner, I'm OK with my laptop bricking.

                                      That's a security issue, not an inability to repair. One of those where if they have time to replace the fingerprint scanner without you knowing it happened, you have bigger issues to correct.

                                      Lots of companies have gotten into trouble with this sort of thing. Those "Warranty void if removed or broken" stickers for one.

                                      Or those shaddy places that don't replace with like/real parts to give you the same level of security you had before the breakage. Then you end up with a potential security issue, yeah no.

                                      The point is, Apple is not giving you the choice. I don't take my stuff to anyone else to fix because I'm a competent bench tech as well. I wouldn't be allowed to fix any Apple device myself if they continue down this road.

                                      If you're ok with not owning the device, that's just fine for you. Don't take away options for everyone else.

                                      Well - I suppose that you could argue that you should be allowed to purchase the certified fingerprint reader... and as such should be able to get access to the software to do the reset.. but that's not exactly the same thing.

                                      A typical argument here is the 'right' to use 3rd party parts to fix things... which I can see they definitely want to avoid to prevent the security issues.

                                      scottalanmillerS 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                      • DashrenderD
                                        Dashrender
                                        last edited by

                                        We're not talking about something like the camera, but heck, really when it comes to a phone, I suppose pretty much any/every part has security concerns.

                                        This isn't like John Deere tractor where you're trying to replace a gear that could easily be made by any vendor (as long as the specs match exactly) - we're talking about security components that should be signed and verified so the end to end security is maintained.

                                        This is a situation where I'm OK with this kind of lock out.

                                        You can bet your ass the automakers will do the same with self driving cars with the components that ensure security within their systems, well at least until they are required federally to make each component talk to each other through standard APIs - oh wait, that will never happen.. LOL.

                                        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                        • DonahueD
                                          Donahue
                                          last edited by

                                          It should be the same as cars, and probably will be regulated at some point to be similar by the government. With cars, you are supposed to be able to have the right to repair it using 3rd parties if you desire so. It helps reduce the possibility of a monopoly for that car maker. Tesla is kind of fighting that idea at the moment, but any time the consumer is forced to only use the OEM, it gives the OEM all the leverage and the consumer is left with no option but to use them at whatever price point the OEM thinks they can get away with. It also puts the consumer at risk of the OEM arbitrary deciding that they no longer wish to offer that service at any price, and the consumer is now completely screwed. This is like MS arbitrarily deciding they dont like your o365 or azure account, and just disabling or deleting it. Imaging if MS tried to say that if you were going to run windows in the cloud, you HAD to use azure or else windows would lock itself out and become inoperable.

                                          I am fine with the idea that apple would not honor warranties when third party attempted repairs, but the consumer should still have that right to get the service done without fear of triggering booby traps.

                                          scottalanmillerS 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 2
                                          • scottalanmillerS
                                            scottalanmiller @Dashrender
                                            last edited by

                                            @Dashrender said in Some New Macs Risk Bricking from Third Party Repairs:

                                            @travisdh1 said in Some New Macs Risk Bricking from Third Party Repairs:

                                            @Dashrender said in Some New Macs Risk Bricking from Third Party Repairs:

                                            @travisdh1 said in Some New Macs Risk Bricking from Third Party Repairs:

                                            @s-hackleman said in Some New Macs Risk Bricking from Third Party Repairs:

                                            I'm OK with this one. If someone unauthorized messes with or replaces my fingerprint scanner, I'm OK with my laptop bricking.

                                            That's a security issue, not an inability to repair. One of those where if they have time to replace the fingerprint scanner without you knowing it happened, you have bigger issues to correct.

                                            Lots of companies have gotten into trouble with this sort of thing. Those "Warranty void if removed or broken" stickers for one.

                                            Or those shaddy places that don't replace with like/real parts to give you the same level of security you had before the breakage. Then you end up with a potential security issue, yeah no.

                                            The point is, Apple is not giving you the choice. I don't take my stuff to anyone else to fix because I'm a competent bench tech as well. I wouldn't be allowed to fix any Apple device myself if they continue down this road.

                                            If you're ok with not owning the device, that's just fine for you. Don't take away options for everyone else.

                                            Well - I suppose that you could argue that you should be allowed to purchase the certified fingerprint reader... and as such should be able to get access to the software to do the reset.. but that's not exactly the same thing.

                                            A typical argument here is the 'right' to use 3rd party parts to fix things... which I can see they definitely want to avoid to prevent the security issues.

                                            It sounds like an excuse. Their are laws about right to repair, and then we create a false security concern to justify not needing to allow it.

                                            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 2
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