PSA: Apple Silicon Security Hole Discovered in M2 MacBook Air

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Apple M2 chips M2 Pro 230117 scaled
Apple M2 chips M2 Pro 230117 scaled

If you own either an iPhone 12 model or an M2-based MacBook Air, you should update those to the latest software release at your earliest convenience.

A cybersecurity firm, Trail of Bits, discovered a security flaw that affects several devices with Apple Silicon, particularly iPhone, iPad, and Mac models. This vulnerability allows hackers to retrieve the data processed in the GPU’s local memory, which is a huge concern for users who want to protect their sensitive data. Besides the Neural Engine that handles machine learning, the GPU is also heavily used for processing Large Language Models for AI applications.

According to Wired, Apple has issued a security fix for devices with the A17 Pro and M3 chips, specifically iPhone 15 Pro models and MacBook Pro models introduced last October. Trail of Bits also reported that the iPad Air (3rd generation), which was powered by the A12 chip, had received a fix, so A12-based devices should taken care of as well.

However, other older models with vulnerable GPUs, including the iPhone 12 models and the M2-based 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air. It goes without saying that Apple is still working on a security update for those devices. Therefore, it’s always the best idea to update your devices as soon as Apple issues a software release, especially to keep your devices safe and secure. 

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