TikTok in serious trouble over data collection, again
A legal claim against TikTok has been filed in the UK alleging the social network collects too much data on children.
Read More
Blog
- Home /
- Blog
Apple M1 chips contain a security bug that is next to impossible to fix
Apple's indigenously-developed Arm-based M1 chip suffers from a covert-channel vulnerability, unearthed by Linux developer Hector Martin.
Martin unearthed the vulnerability, dubbed M1RACLES, while working on the Asahi Linux project to port Linux to run on the Apple M1.
Martin has created a website to share details about the vulnerability. But, while the executive summary of the bug makes this bug appear like it is a significant one, Martin clarifies that it doesn’t pose any threat at all.
TechRadar needs you!
We're looking at how our readers use VPN for a forthcoming in-depth report. We'd love to hear your thoughts in the survey below. It won't take more than 60 seconds of your time.
- Protect your devices with these best antivirus software
- Here are the best ransomware protection tools
- We've put together a list of the best endpoint protection software
“Really, nobody's going to actually find a nefarious use for this flaw in practical circumstances….Covert channels can't leak data from uncooperative apps or systems,” explains Martin in a FAQ on the vulnerability.
Nuisance value
Martin explains that the vulnerability was the result of a conscious decision on Apple’s part who he argues decided to break the Arm spec by removing a mandatory feature, since they'd never need to use that feature for macOS.
Although there’s very little that can be achieved by exploiting this vulnerability, he says he flagged it because it violates the OS security model.
“You're not supposed to be able to send data from one process to another secretly,” he reasons.
Martin says that Apple will have to make a change on the silicon level to the M1 to mitigate this flaw. He suggests that the bug can be mitigated in virtual machines (VM), since the register still responds to VM-related access controls, but again adds that users should worry about other prevalent security issues like malware, rather than the M1RACLES bug.
TechRadarPro has contacted Apple for comment.
- These are the best malware removal software on the market
Via The Register
Date
27 May 2021Sources
Other Blog
-
-
Amazon's fantastic Black Friday iPad Pro deals are back on the menu for a short time
We thought Amazon's great iPad Pro (2020) deals had ended but they're back, baby, for a limited time.
Read More -
Lenovo’s ThinkPad X1 Fold launched – India’s first foldable laptop
The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold comes covered in a leather folio and weighs just 999 grams. It can be transformed into a tablet or a laptop whenever required
Read More -
Visa’s Tap to Phone service wants to transform payment processing for small businesses
Tap to Phone lets small and micro businesses process payments using nothing more than an NFC-enabled Android phone.
Read More
Find Out More About Us
Want to hire best people for your project? Look no further you came to the right place!