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by unsnap_biceps 573 days ago
Are you saying Apple x86 shipped with this? Or are you saying the T2 is equivalent?
1 comments
walterbell 573 days ago
T2 is exclusively under Apple control, without dependency on a third party (e.g. Intel, Management Engine, Absolute).

The functionality of different T2 generations has been documented by Apple and security researchers.

T2 included Activation Lock / Anti-Theft features.

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altairprime 573 days ago
So, to confirm: Apple has no involvement with LoJack / Absolute; but you’ve included them because .. they have a better-known anti-theft system?
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walterbell 573 days ago
Apple implemented an anti-theft system under their own control, even when shipping x86 platforms.

Any other x86 OEM could have done the same, instead of handing control to 3rd-party CompuTrace / LoJack / Absolute.

As HP says in the document at the start of this sub-thread:

  If the [Absolute] product is currently enabled, the risk is someone else is in a position to lock the system, wipe the drive and/or retrieve files.
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altairprime 572 days ago
> even when shipping x86 platforms

Could you say more on why x86 a focus of your reply? Absolute is supported on ARM PC laptops as well, so it’s unclear how to interpret x86 here.

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walterbell 572 days ago
Original comment said:

> CompuTrace has been shipped by every major x86 PC OEM for decades

UEFI-enabled "ARM PC" laptops are new for 2024 with ex-Apple Qualcomm/Nuvia/Oryon. Prior Arm-based devices did not provide UEFI runtime services for persistent manipulation of host operating systems. Windows 11 for Arm PCs was just released in November 2024.

x86 PC platforms provide decades of history to compare OEM anti-theft policies.

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