How FileVault and APFS Encrypted are enabled and managed differently, and details of how they work internally. Concentrates on T2 and Apple silicon Macs, but also covers older Intel models.
T2
Did you spot the change that didn’t take place as expected in the 15.2 update this week? It marks the end of the Intel era for Macs.
How Intel Macs without a T2 chip boot, and how Secure Boot works in those with T2 or Apple silicon chips. How the latter can still enjoy Secure Boot when starting up from an external disk.
First securing the Home folder in an encrypted sparse disk image, then to whole-volume encryption using CoreStorage, now using T2 and Apple silicon chips.
Latest macOS updates bring revised firmware for most models. Here are details of which are no longer being updated, and what’s likely in the future.
Full details of firmware installed by macOS Sequoia on supported Macs, including on remaining Intel model without a T2 chip, T2 and Apple silicon Macs.
How long does Apple continue to provide firmware updates for a model once it has been introduced? Results from 40 different models since 2009.
All about Mac firmware, from PowerPC Open Firmware to Apple silicon’s LLB and iBoot, and what the rules are for updating firmware.
T1 and T2 chips in Intel Macs, integral in M-series chips, used in Sequoia’s virtual machines at last, and an essential feature in Private Cloud Compute.
Two watersheds that could occur in macOS 15: that it only supports Macs with Apple chips including an Arm processor, and that it opens access to older versions of macOS on Apple silicon.
The Eclectic Light Company 