Apple's New MacBook Disconnects Microphone "Physically" When Lid is Closed

[ColeWorld]

EDIT: So some people aren't sure why the article/author mention the T2. So here's the pdf straight from Apple explaining the other T2 chip features, and their quote on the "HARDWARE microphone disconnect"

Apple T2 Chip Overview PDF

Quote

 

Source

Quote

Apple's custom T2 security chip in the latest MacBooks includes a new hardware feature that physically disconnects the MacBook's built-in microphone whenever the user closes the lid, the company revealed

 

Quote

"This disconnect is implemented in hardware alone, and therefore prevents any software, even with root or kernel privileges in macOS, and even the software on the T2 chip, from engaging the microphone when the lid is closed," Apple explained in the guide [PDF].

Not a bad idea?

 

 

[Deus Voltage]

Hardware failure rate just jumped by 2000%

[Syntaxvgm]

4 minutes ago, Deus Voltage said:

Hardware failure rate just jumped by 2000%

in comparison to other unfixable macbook problems, this is insignificant. 

 

I really think it serves nothing but helping paranoia, since people who buy macbook likely have phones and smart devices, but it does a good job of providing a sense of security which is what apple strives to do. 

[DrMacintosh]

The Article makes not sense. The author knows a piece of silicon can't actually remove a connector from the logic board so they put quotations over the word physically, yet proceed to not quantify or elaborate on what exactly is going on. 

[lewdicrous]

8 minutes ago, Deus Voltage said:

Hardware failure rate just jumped by 2000%

No one tell Louis!!

[DrMacintosh]

9 minutes ago, Deus Voltage said:

Hardware failure rate just jumped by 2000%

Except it didn't. There isn't a little motor inside MacBooks that physically disconnect the Mic from the logic board. The author of the article has no idea what he/she's talking about. 

[Syntaxvgm]

6 minutes ago, DrMacintosh said:

The Article makes not sense. The author knows a piece of silicon can't actually remove a connector from the logic board so they put quotations over the word physically, yet proceed to not quantify or elaborate on what exactly is going on. 

 

 

It even contradicts itself

Journalism/10

yah I was thinking this would be a magnet type of thing if true, but who knows doesn't really sound like a thing they'd do 

[S w a t s o n]

6 minutes ago, DrMacintosh said:

The Article makes not sense. The author knows a piece of silicon can't actually remove a connector from the logic board so they put quotations over the word physically, yet proceed to not quantify or elaborate on what exactly is going on. 

 

 

It even contradicts itself

Journalism/10

Yea I would assume it would have to be something placed in the hinge for it to be an actual physical disconnection. The secure enclave in the T2 cant be modified but it's not actually a physical separation of matter

[DocSwag]

6 minutes ago, DrMacintosh said:

The Article makes not sense. The author knows a piece of silicon can't actually remove a connector from the logic board so they put quotations over the word physically, yet proceed to not quantify or elaborate on what exactly is going on. 

 

 

It even contradicts itself

Journalism/10

I would imagine it'd be some sort of thing where the microphone connector disconnects when the lid is closed because of how it's bent or something. Saying it's the T2 is ridiculous lmao

[DrMacintosh]

Just now, Syntaxvgm said:

yah I was thinking this would be a magnet type of thing if true, but who knows doesn't really sound like a thing they'd do 

Apple uses magnets all the time in their products, that would be an easy way to implement this "physical disconnect" 

[DrMacintosh]

Just now, DocSwag said:

I would imagine it'd be some sort of thing where the microphone connector disconnects when the lid is closed because of how it's bent or something. 

That is also ridiculous, a logic board connector does not have much of any insertion rating. 

[Curufinwe_wins]

16 minutes ago, DrMacintosh said:

That is also ridiculous, a logic board connector does not have much of any insertion rating. 

What about spring pogo connectors? In the hinge? 

 

https://goo.gl/images/vJVP7N

 

Like on that moto phone thingy

[DrMacintosh]

8 minutes ago, Curufinwe_wins said:

What about spring pogo connectors? In the hinge? 

 

https://goo.gl/images/vJVP7N

 

Like on that moto phone thingy

How would that involve the T2 Chip? The way Apple is doing this is probably way easier than we realize. I'm 90% sure its probably just a magnet somewhere in the body that gets activated when the display is closed. 

[Curufinwe_wins]

17 minutes ago, DrMacintosh said:

How would that involve the T2 Chip? The way Apple is doing this is probably way easier than we realize. I'm 90% sure its probably just a magnet somewhere in the body that gets activated when the display is closed. 

I dont necessarily believe the article when it says that the t2 chip is related to the hardware feature. Because obviously if it was related to the t2 chip it is a software feature implemented in hardware, and theoretically if the devices t2 chip was compromised that feature could be subverted. (Not that that is an expected or likely failure)

 

I was just throwing out an easy way to literally implement the idea in only hardware.

[Guest]

Should probably wait for a more reputable news source before making judgements

[dfsdfgfkjsefoiqzemnd]

It might use a relay that opens/closes the mic's power circuit.  Either way, if they actually cared about security they'd just give the user a physical kill switch so that the mic can be manually disabled without having to close the lid.

[Misanthrope]

Are we sure this is an issue? And you're not just using it wrong?

[mynameisjuan]

Even if this was due to privacy...why would I care. My lid is closed means im not around my laptop to listen in on me. The mic is nothing to brag home about and wont be able to listen for more than a few feet away. 

 

Rather have a hardware switch on the keyboard where it matters the most. 

[D13H4RD]

I'm guessing it just disables the microphone completely? 

[GoldenLag]

Couldnt keep the lid on this one i guess.

[orbitalbuzzsaw]

Security is the one thing Apple does well IMO. As much as I may hate most of what they do, gotta hand it to em on this one.

 

Also

3 minutes ago, GoldenLag said:

Couldnt keep the lid on this one i guess.

Damn it you beat me to it.

[GoldenLag]

1 minute ago, OrbitalBuzzsaw said:

Damn it you beat me to it.

Didnt hear much from 'ya

[orbitalbuzzsaw]

1 minute ago, GoldenLag said:

Didnt hear much from 'ya

I guess I'll have to keep an ear out for more puns

[DrMacintosh]

1 hour ago, mynameisjuan said:

My lid is closed means im not around my laptop to listen in on me.

I'm not sure how you use your laptop, but for most people, a MacBook that is closed is within earshot of the user. 

[DrMacintosh]

1 hour ago, Captain Chaos said:

It might use a relay that opens/closes the mic's power circuit.  Either way, if they actually cared about security they'd just give the user a physical kill switch so that the mic can be manually disabled without having to close the lid.

So you believe that they do not care? Based on what exactly?