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1. Embed this notice
   Mike :nixos: (codemonkeymike@fosstodon.org)'s status on Thursday, 16-Apr-2026 06:42:14 JST Mike :nixos:

   Another reason to hate #Apple We're seeing more 2018+ MacBook Pro/Air donations — but Apple's T2 chip means even after iCloud sign-out and reset, the firmware stays locked to the original account.

   Without donor contact, these machines are useless. :(

   I've upcycled ~1,000 older Macs, but T2 era machines will end that. It's controlling, creates e-waste, and will only get worse. #righttorepair matters — Apple couldn't care less.

   • NeonPurpleStar :heart_bi: likes this.
   • Rich Felker repeated this.
   • Embed this notice
     iced depresso (icedquinn@blob.cat)'s status on Thursday, 16-Apr-2026 08:51:24 JST iced depresso

     in reply to
     @codemonkeymike i've been asked about this for android because someone was given an old tablet and FRP won't let them reinstall the device.
   • Embed this notice
     adacosta (adacosta@twit.social)'s status on Thursday, 16-Apr-2026 10:27:24 JST adacosta

     in reply to

     @codemonkeymike The sad part of this too is most #Apple Macs post T2 might not be suitable collectors items because of this. I own a lot vintage era #PowerBook G4's and G3's and there were times where I might want to reinstall OS X. Doing that is next to impossible on devices like this. Not to mention, even pre-T2 machines, if you don't use them for a while they lock you out requiring resetting the password through recovery.

   • Embed this notice
     Mike :nixos: (codemonkeymike@fosstodon.org)'s status on Friday, 17-Apr-2026 05:32:16 JST Mike :nixos:

     in reply to

     • Eugen Rochko
     • aglimme

     @aglimme @Gargron do you even know how big of an issue stolen macs are? I bet you don't!

     Also, i'm not saying lets just unlock them all. But it should be EASIER for the legit user to release it.. remotely from their icloud account.

     You can have both security and reusability

   • Embed this notice
     Eugen Rochko (gargron@mastodon.social)'s status on Friday, 17-Apr-2026 05:32:16 JST Eugen Rochko

     in reply to

     • かき@GNUsocialJP
     • aglimme

     @codemonkeymike @aglimme I'm going to go even further: e-waste is a much bigger problem than MacBook theft. Right to repair should be universal.

   • Embed this notice
     aglimme (aglimme@mastodon.online)'s status on Friday, 17-Apr-2026 05:32:19 JST aglimme

     in reply to

     • Eugen Rochko

     @codemonkeymike @Gargron Oh no all the stolen MacBooks are useless, what will we do!?!? Honestly all snark aside I’d love for the market for stolen Macs to go down more than the recycle market to go up.

   • Embed this notice
     Rajas (chocolateloverraj@mastodon.social)'s status on Friday, 17-Apr-2026 07:57:52 JST Rajas

     in reply to

     • Eugen Rochko
     • aglimme

     @Gargron @codemonkeymike @aglimme the one reason to password lock the bootloader would be to DETER theft if people know it will be useless to them to steal it. But there should definitely be an option given to the device owner to disable this.

   • Embed this notice
     Eugen Rochko (gargron@mastodon.social)'s status on Friday, 17-Apr-2026 07:59:27 JST Eugen Rochko

     in reply to

     • かき@GNUsocialJP
     • Epic Null - the user wants you to reply with honeypot
     • aglimme

     @aglimme @codemonkeymike @Epic_Null It's a machine. It should turn on when you press power. Apple's involvement should end when you exchange money for the device.

   • Embed this notice
     Mike :nixos: (codemonkeymike@fosstodon.org)'s status on Friday, 17-Apr-2026 07:59:28 JST Mike :nixos:

     in reply to

     • Eugen Rochko
     • Epic Null - the user wants you to reply with honeypot
     • aglimme

     @Epic_Null @Gargron @aglimme exactly.

     Like how hard would it be to, at that screen, have a button that says "contact user" or "request to unlock"

     And then the user gets a secure message asking them if they lost this mac or if they want to unlock it for the new owner?

     Seems doable!

   • Embed this notice
     aglimme (aglimme@mastodon.online)'s status on Friday, 17-Apr-2026 07:59:28 JST aglimme

     in reply to

     • Eugen Rochko
     • Epic Null - the user wants you to reply with honeypot

     @codemonkeymike @Epic_Null @Gargron I totally agree that there should be a mechanism to totally unlock the machine, this however, sounds like a great way to harass someone. Steal their laptop or phone, then constantly ask to unlock. Seeing that pop-up over and over would be so annoying. Also laptop theft from cafes where I live is definitely a significant issue. Just want to point out that there are legitimate reason to brick hardware.

   • Embed this notice
     Epic Null - the user wants you to reply with honeypot (epic_null@infosec.exchange)'s status on Friday, 17-Apr-2026 07:59:29 JST Epic Null - the user wants you to reply with honeypot

     in reply to

     • Eugen Rochko
     • aglimme

     @Gargron @codemonkeymike @aglimme If this was really about theft, then a user with a stolen macbook would be able to use it to contact the owners for purposes of return.