Chuyển tới nội dung
Trang chủ » Thousands of MacBooks became junk because of Apple’s security

Thousands of MacBooks became junk because of Apple’s security

Thousands of MacBooks became junk because of Apple's security

Thousands of MacBooks became junk because of Apple’s security

“Who among you would like to own a two-year-old MacBook M1? Too bad recyclers turned it into dust,” John Bumstead, owner of US computer repair company RDKL, recently tweeted.

RDKL specializes in importing old Apple laptops for repair and replacement of unusable parts, offering computers at low prices and helping to reduce the amount of e-waste in the environment. But according to Bumstead, the situation has become more complicated because of Apple’s policies, particularly when using Activation Locked activation keys and security features built into the chip. In many cases, the only solution is to destroy the MacBook, as it cannot be reused even if it is only a few years old and still in perfect condition.





Dozens of MacBooks are in good condition but are thrown away because they can't be unlocked.  Photo: John Bumstead

Dozens of MacBooks are in good condition but are thrown away because they can’t be unlocked. A photo: John Bumstead

In the past, selling a refurbished vehicle to a repair company required a certificate of destruction of the old vehicle’s data. However, this requirement was considered impossible, so most companies chose to sell machines without disks. Since 2016, Apple has integrated the hard drive into the circuit board, which makes replacing this component difficult. Up until 2018, Apple continued to lock security information in a chip called the T2 that came with Intel chips and then integrated it directly into Apple Silicon chips, rendering locked machines unusable.

“Currently the circuit board is also blocked. So they are basically useless. You can’t even boot a 2018 or newer MacBook when it’s locked because the MacBook doesn’t boot from it by default. peripherals,” says Bumstead.

Activation Lock is one of the most famous security solution from Apple which is used in most of the devices like iPhone, iPad and MacBook to restrict the usage of the device you already have. Without the original iCloud account, other people cannot use the device even if the software is reinstalled.

In a Bumstead post, another garage owner confirmed that he’s had to recycle or throw away more than 2,500 iCloud-locked devices in the last 2-3 years. “We’re just a shop. Imagine the total amount of waste Apple creates as computer components become increasingly expensive and difficult to manufacture,” the person said.

With a PC, there is no need to tamper with the machine as all you have to do is ask the previous owner to disable the security lock. However, the source of the junk is mostly corporations and school liquidation kits, which is why corporations like Bumstead are hitting back at not being able to publicly appeal for support.

According to him, the repair company is the legal owner of the old machine they bought, but the fate of the device is not entirely in their hands. Some sellers are looking for a “bypass”, that is, a trick to bypass Apple’s Activation Lock step. However, this is not how professional companies use them.

Market experts say the tide of locked computers is coming soon. These are computers purchased by large institutions in 2018-2019 and since the liquidation period. According to Bumstead, “Certainly a lot of cars will be sold capped.”

In Bumstead’s case, he says the solution is to send Apple-controlled iCloud account information and device information to Apple. The company reviews the device records, asks the original owner questions, and if the original owner has no objections, the device is unlocked. However, this process can take longer than 30 days.

Luu Kui (in accordance The bad, 9to5Mac)

Trả lời

Email của bạn sẽ không được hiển thị công khai. Các trường bắt buộc được đánh dấu *