Changes to XProtect and XProtect Remediator in macOS 27 can appear puzzling. And why does it still get MRT from 2022? Plus details of firmware and Recovery systems.
firmware
If you updated to Sequoia 15.7.9 or Sonoma 14.8.9 before 17 August, their mBoot firmware should be 18000.161.9. If you updated later, it should be 18000.161.10 instead. This explains why.
Due for public release on or by 22 September, it should be accompanied by Tahoe 26.7 and Sequoia 15.8, and hopefully syncing of firmware versions.
With yet another macOS security update to 26.6.2 due shortly, why do the download sizes of these updates vary so widely?
Expected next week: updates for all three supported versions of macOS, and a return to order for firmware in Apple silicon Macs. Here’s what to expect and when.
Before the T2, EFI firmware in Intel Macs was complicated. Then simplicity arrived: all Macs running the current version of a supported version of macOS had the same firmware. Not any more they don’t.
An important update for those expecting to update Apple silicon Macs to 26.4, as older versions may crash, and are expected to report firmware version errors.
How to read and interpret firmware version numbers from the first Intel Macs to the latest Apple silicon models.
Why should an app start crashing on launch in macOS 26.4 beta 2? Why does its firmware version number make no sense? And how did it take 6 months to fix six typos?
Details of new firmware versions for iMac 2019 models, those with T2 or Apple silicon chips. And how Apple assigns version numbers to iBoot.
The Eclectic Light Company 