Apple's T2 chip will prevent hackers from eavesdropping on your microphone

Re:Apple's T2 chip will prevent hackers from eavesdropping o... by dpkonofa on Sunday November 04, 2018 @06:24PM (#18378618)

Or, you know, they could use a chip that they're already putting into the device (like the T2) and not have to use additional components. Same end result without the extra parts.

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Re:Apple's T2 chip will prevent hackers from eavesdropping o... by lstodd on Sunday November 04, 2018 @07:31PM (#18378901)

And an unknown and unknowable attack surface.

At least with the switch if the mic doesn't work you just check for magnets around it and that's it.

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Re:Apple's T2 chip will prevent hackers from eavesdropping o... by xvector on Sunday November 04, 2018 @08:43PM (#18379197)

I'd argue the T2 chip is actually more secure than your method. Magnets can be removed. The T2 chip cannot. Not without rendering the computer unusable and the data irrecoverable.

The chip provides a hardware disconnect for the microphone, just like your idea. Except it's baked into the silicon instead of an additional large part in the body of the computer.

Regardless, if your attack model is "T2 chip is compromised", all bets are off. Worrying about the microphone would be the absolute least of your concerns. All your local and iCloud data can now be decrypted, your 2FA is compromised, so on and so forth.

The T2 chip and Secure Enclave provide the strongest security guarantees in today's computers and mobile devices respectively. I'm not worried about a compromise of the T2 chip, to be honest.

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Re:Apple's T2 chip will prevent hackers from eavesdropping o... by Johnny555 on Sunday November 04, 2018 @11:40PM (#18379907)

I'd argue the T2 chip is actually more secure than your method. Magnets can be removed. The T2 chip cannot. Not without rendering the computer unusable and the data irrecoverable

If someone can physically modify your laptop, you've already been hacked, T2 chip or not.

if your attack model is "T2 chip is compromised"

I think the more realistic attack model is "Apple enables the undocumented 'turn on mic while closed' feature that it was required to add through a national security letter that they can't talk about."

And then that secret hack is either discovered (or stolen) by other government.

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Re:Apple's T2 chip will prevent hackers from eavesdropping o... by AlfeG on Monday November 05, 2018 @01:42AM (#18380349)

Some repair shop or some repair guy could remove magnet for celebrity...

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