T2

Checkra1n tinkerer demonstrates custom boot sound on T2-equipped Mac

Anthony Bouchard / October 29, 2020

One of the things that makes the checkra1n jailbreak unique is that it’s bootrom-based, which means that it’s able to jailbreak any hardware vulnerable to the checkm8 bootrom exploit. This includes iPhones, iPads, Apple TVs, and even the T2 chip that many modern Mac computers now come equipped with from the factory.

It wasn’t long ago that the checkra1n team baked official support for the T2 chip into their jailbreak tool, and as such, it may come as no surprise that some of the first T2-based hacks are beginning to trickle in. One of the latest of such hacks apparently involves modifying a T2 chip-equipped Mac Mini to play the infamous THX sound during boot-up:

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Security researchers demonstrate ‘PlugNPwn’ attack on T2-equipped Mac

Anthony Bouchard / October 12, 2020

It wasn’t long after the checkm8 bootrom exploit gave rise to the checkra1n jailbreak tool that clever hackers learned how they could use the same exploit (along with other hacks) to tamper with the proprietary T2 chip embedded in a bevy of modern Macs. In fact, the checkra1n jailbreak tool’s most recent update even added support for the T2 chip in Macs for interested tinkerers.

Despite how incredible the aforementioned circumstances sounded to jailbreak enthusiasts at first glance, those on the other side of the fence quickly began wondering about the implications this might have for the security of Apple’s most popular computers. Now, we may finally have some idea thanks to information published by the t8012 Development Team.

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Checkra1n team teases pwned Mac Pro, ‘the most expensive device ever jailbroken’

Anthony Bouchard / May 7, 2020

Most associate the term jailbreaking with devices like the iPhone, iPad, and in some cases, even the Apple TV. But when gifted hackers began experimenting with the powerful checkm8 hardware-based bootrom exploit earlier this year, things got more interesting. In March, for example, checkra1n team member Luca Todesco demonstrated nifty hacks on the OLED Touch Bar of a T2 chip-equipped MacBook Pro.

But the MacBook Pro isn’t the only Apple computer that sports a T2 chip. As a matter of fact, many do, and with that in mind, it may not come as much of a surprise that the checkra1n team has taken things a step further by jailbreaking yet another T2-equipped Mac – the elaborate and expensive Mac Pro:

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Luca Todesco teases checkra1n hacks on a T2-equipped MacBook Pro’s Touch Bar

Anthony Bouchard / March 10, 2020

The checkra1n team is best known for its checkm8 bootrom exploit-based jailbreak tool for A9-A11 devices. But those closely following outspoken members of the team on Twitter, namely Luca Todesco (@qwertyoruiopz), likely took note of some particularly interesting teasers Tweeted Tuesday morning and afternoon.

A series of images shared by Todesco himself appear to depict checkra1n-centric hacks being deployed and displayed on a MacBook Pro’s OLED Touch Bar:

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Does your Mac have Apple T2 security chip? Here’s how to find out!

Christian Zibreg / November 20, 2018

Certain Mac models take advantage of a second-generation Apple security chip, called T2. Without it, you won't enjoy advanced secure boot capabilities, hardware-accelerated flash storage encryption or other perks. Some Mac computers have the Apple T2 security chip while others do not. In this brief step-by-step tutorial, iDownloadBlog will show you how to identify Mac models with the Apple T2 chip.

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