Ten years ago, a firmware worm that could have inserted malware into Mac boot flash storage was demonstrated, and shortly afterwards many Macs were found to be running outdated firmware. We’ve come a long way since.
firmware
How to check secure boot, SIP, Gatekeeper/XProtect, its SSV, FileVault, macOS and its firmware, and XProtect Remediator scans.
Listing for all compatible Intel Macs with T2 chips, and all Apple silicon Macs.
Explains the sequence of events from Boot ROM to FileVault login, what storage is accessible at different times, and where the code is.
How to check your Mac is booting in Full Security, and how to read its log to verify all the key steps involved in that process.
Gives the latest firmware versions for all Macs running the most recent supported version of macOS, and which are expected to change in the future.
If you’re still using an Intel Mac, do you know when its macOS support will end? Is it worth upgrading any more when most of the new features are for Apple silicon Macs?
A round-up of firmware updates across 15.4, 14.7.5 and 13.7.5, prospects for future macOS and firmware updates, and problems updating to 15.4.
T2 Macs updated to 15.3.2 should have a newer firmware version than those who installed the Safari update for Sonoma or Ventura, but what is 14.7.5 and 13.7.5? Time to deconfuse.
From the Macintosh ROM of Classic days, to Open Firmware in Power Macs, and on to (U)EFI with Intel, and ending up with LLB and iBoot in Apple silicon Macs.
The Eclectic Light Company 