Apple locks Macs for third-party repairs



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According to a MacRumors report, Apple locks some Macs against third-party repairs. Affected models include the iMac Pro and MacBook Pro 2018, featuring advanced security features and who must pass some Apple Service Toolkit 2 tests for successful repair.

However, there is a bit of hope for those who hope to fix their Mac themselves or who are using third party vendors. iFixIt reported that, for the time being, software repair locks were not in place. In order to test this, iFixIt has purchased a brand new MacBook Pro and has performed a series of tests, including the exchange of the display and the logic board as well as the system update. exploitation. He also revealed that the MacBook Pro worked perfectly. However, they warned that future updates could make such repairs impossible, which would make the scenario described below a reality.

Citing internal documents distributed to Apple Authorized Service Providers, the original reports indicated that Apple was using a new Service Toolkit 2 software lock. This essentially renders the iMac Pro and 2018 MacBook Pro models unusable if they are not available. are not repaired in specific locations approved by the company. The lock software affects repairs on the 2018 MacBook Display Assembly, Logic Board, Top Case, and Touch ID Card. The lock also has an impact on the repairs of the logic board or flash memory present on the iMac Pro 2018.

In both cases, if these systems are not repaired with the help of Apple Service Toolkit 2, the service will be rendered incomplete and the system will not start. Given the recent hardware piracy, this would be a security measure to protect the Apple T2 chip, which contains encrypted storage information and Touch ID authentication.

According to a separate report from the motherboard, only Apple's authorized service providers will have access to the Apple Service Toolkit 2. Therefore, these repairs can not be performed in independent repair shops.

"For Macs equipped with the Apple T2 chip, the process of repairing some replaced parts is not complete until the AST 2 system setup suite has been completed." If this step is not performed, the system will be inoperative and the repair incomplete, "the documentation explains.

Compared to HP, Dell or Lenovo, Apple is known for the protection of its products by a protective wall, which is not surprising. But the news worries consumers who might want to jump Apple and repair their devices solo without any help.

In fact, Apple and many other technology companies recently took part in lobbying activities against the right to repair laws, which aim to give consumers more rights and give them access to the resources they need to repair. their products without any intervention on their part. Apple has not commented on the report yet, but given the controversy inherent in this story, you may soon hear about the company.

Updated on 6/10/18: Update with iFixIt report that software locks are not yet in place.










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