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Security chip

I have the Macbook Pro 13in Retina early 2013 How can I increase the security chip or is it possible.

Thinking of getting a newer MacMini . What year would be good to get a good security chip?



MacBook Pro 13″, macOS 10.14

Posted on Sep 30, 2020 9:24 AM

Reply
4 replies

Sep 30, 2020 10:34 AM in response to Cathy Hannan

Cathy Hannan wrote:

Do you feel the T2 chip would be necessary if you keep banking etc on the computer and it is on the internet?


T2 provides benefits for security, yes. Faster storage encryption, too.


Hardware and software security write-up:


https://manuals.info.apple.com/MANUALS/1000/MA1902/en_US/apple-platform-security-guide.pdf


But the biggest risk to our data is probably us. We get tired or careless or angry or fearful or our thinking otherwise muddied, and our actions can then be quite unwise. And quite useful for those that are seeking to hack us; to hack us, and not to hack our computers.


The risks we ourselves cause can vary, such as installing add-on anti-malware (which can add security vulnerabilities, and can leak users’ data), failing to maintain backups and preferably two or more sets with some kept offline, or failing to enable two-factor authentication, or re-using passwords, staying current with apps and firmware and even current with hardware, or getting phished. And sooner or later, we’ll all get phished.


Recognize and avoid phishing messages, phony support calls, and other scams - Apple Support


Security is not something that can be bought. It’s a set of decisions and trade-offs each of us makes (or ignores), around protecting and maintaining access to our data and our computers, and all at a cost and a complexity and a mental investment that each of us can and will be able to sustain. Usually with some fallbacks, such as encryption against physical loss and against future repairs (T2 helps, here), with backups that can allow recovery from theft or loss or damage or breach, maybe having spare hardware for critical functions, and the rest of the unique trade-offs involved. And security threats can and do evolve. And some “security” apps and options that can be purchased range from worthless to much worse to malware. And a realization that we might drop our computer and damage it, or we might or will get phished and that means two-factor authentication best be enabled, etc., and to plan for some of that.


Plans and contingencies and trade-offs and unique requirements and different budgets, all the way down. And there’s no magic and no universal solution.


Security chip

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