Remote disabling: Difference between revisions

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Apple employs several systems to control device authorization:

'''Activation lock:''' Part of Apple's "Find My" system, Activation Lock ties devices to an Apple ID. If a device is reported lost or stolen, it can be remotely locked, making it unusable even after a factory reset. This requires the original owner's Apple ID and password to reactivate.<ref>NWIDA (April 12, 2024). [https://nwida.org/what-is-apple-activation-lock-and-should-repair-shops-be-worried#:~:text=Apple%20will%20also%20extend%20its,stolen%20iPhone%20from%20being%20reactivated "What is Apple Activation Lock and should repair shops be worried?"]. ''NWIDA''. Retrieved March 25, 2026.</ref><ref name=":0">Apple (September 18, 2024). [https://support.apple.com/guide/security/activation-lock-security-sec0f8dfd030/web "Activation Lock security"]. ''Apple Support''. Retrieved March 25, 2026.</ref>

'''Activation lock:''' Part of Apple's "Find My" system, Activation Lock ties devices to an Apple ID. If a device is reported lost or stolen, it can be remotely locked, making it unusable even after a factory reset. This requires the original owner's Apple ID and password to reactivate.<ref>NWIDA (April 12, 2024). [https://nwida.org/what-is-apple-activation-lock-and-should-repair-shops-be-worried#:~:text=Apple%20will%20also%20extend%20its,stolen%20iPhone%20from%20being%20reactivated "What is Apple Activation Lock and should repair shops be worried?"]. ''NWIDA''. Retrieved March 25, 2026. ([https://web.archive.org/web/20251109102436/https://nwida.org/what-is-apple-activation-lock-and-should-repair-shops-be-worried Archived])</ref><ref name=":0">Apple (September 18, 2024). [https://support.apple.com/guide/security/activation-lock-security-sec0f8dfd030/web "Activation Lock security"]. ''Apple Support''. Retrieved March 25, 2026. ([https://web.archive.org/web/20260220120250/https://support.apple.com/en-gb/guide/security/sec0f8dfd030/web Archived])</ref>

'''[[iCloud]] activation:''' macOS devices (MacBooks, iMacs) require periodic authentication with Apple's servers. If a device is flagged in Apple's systems it may be locked out during these server checks.<ref name=":0" /><ref>Hardwick, Tim (January 27, 2023). [https://9to5mac.com/2023/01/27/2020-macs-landfill/ "Two-year-old Macs are being sent to the landfill because of Activation Lock"]. ''9to5Mac''. Retrieved March 25, 2026.</ref>

'''[[iCloud]] activation:''' macOS devices (MacBooks, iMacs) require periodic authentication with Apple's servers. If a device is flagged in Apple's systems it may be locked out during these server checks.<ref name=":0" /><ref>Hardwick, Tim (January 27, 2023). [https://9to5mac.com/2023/01/27/2020-macs-landfill/ "Two-year-old Macs are being sent to the landfill because of Activation Lock"]. ''9to5Mac''. Retrieved March 25, 2026. ([https://web.archive.org/web/20250822182040/https://9to5mac.com/2023/01/27/2020-macs-landfill/ Archived])</ref>

'''T2 and Apple silicon security:''' Modern MacBooks with T2 chips or Apple Silicon (M1, M2, M3 processors) include firmware-level security that communicates with Apple servers during boot and recovery operations. This can render the device unusable if Apple's servers indicate the device should be locked.<ref>Apple (September 18, 2024). [https://support.apple.com/guide/security/the-secure-enclave-sec59b0b31ff/web "The Secure Enclave"]. ''Apple Support''. Retrieved March 25, 2026.</ref>

'''T2 and Apple silicon security:''' Modern MacBooks with T2 chips or Apple Silicon (M1, M2, M3 processors) include firmware-level security that communicates with Apple servers during boot and recovery operations. This can render the device unusable if Apple's servers indicate the device should be locked.<ref>Apple (September 18, 2024). [https://support.apple.com/guide/security/the-secure-enclave-sec59b0b31ff/web "The Secure Enclave"]. ''Apple Support''. Retrieved March 25, 2026. ([https://web.archive.org/web/20260110131641/https://support.apple.com/en-gb/guide/security/sec59b0b31ff/web Archived])</ref>

'''Mobile device management (MDM):''' Organizations using Apple Business Manager can remotely manage, lock, or wipe devices. If purchased through corporate or educational programs, devices may have MDM profiles that persist even after resale.<ref>Apple (March 1, 2024). [https://support.apple.com/guide/deployment/lock-and-locate-devices-depb980a0be4/web "Lock and locate devices"]. ''Apple Support''. Retrieved March 25, 2026.</ref><ref>Apple (September 16, 2024). [https://support.apple.com/guide/deployment/erase-devices-dep0a819891e/web "Erase devices"]. ''Apple Support''. Retrieved March 25, 2026.</ref>

'''Mobile device management (MDM):''' Organizations using Apple Business Manager can remotely manage, lock, or wipe devices. If purchased through corporate or educational programs, devices may have MDM profiles that persist even after resale.<ref>Apple (March 1, 2024). [https://support.apple.com/guide/deployment/lock-and-locate-devices-depb980a0be4/web "Lock and locate devices"]. ''Apple Support''. Retrieved March 25, 2026. ([https://web.archive.org/web/20251022232018/https://support.apple.com/en-gb/guide/deployment/depb980a0be4/web Archived])</ref><ref>Apple (September 16, 2024). [https://support.apple.com/guide/deployment/erase-devices-dep0a819891e/web "Erase devices"]. ''Apple Support''. Retrieved March 25, 2026. ([https://web.archive.org/web/20251112222301/https://support.apple.com/en-gb/guide/deployment/dep0a819891e/web Archived])</ref>

===Microsoft's mechanisms===

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 Apple employs several systems to control device authorization:
-'''Activation lock:''' Part of Apple's "Find My" system, Activation Lock ties devices to an Apple ID. If a device is reported lost or stolen, it can be remotely locked, making it unusable even after a factory reset. This requires the original owner's Apple ID and password to reactivate.<ref>NWIDA (April 12, 2024). [https://nwida.org/what-is-apple-activation-lock-and-should-repair-shops-be-worried#:~:text=Apple%20will%20also%20extend%20its,stolen%20iPhone%20from%20being%20reactivated "What is Apple Activation Lock and should repair shops be worried?"]. ''NWIDA''. Retrieved March 25, 2026.</ref><ref name=":0">Apple (September 18, 2024). [https://support.apple.com/guide/security/activation-lock-security-sec0f8dfd030/web "Activation Lock security"]. ''Apple Support''. Retrieved March 25, 2026.</ref>
+'''Activation lock:''' Part of Apple's "Find My" system, Activation Lock ties devices to an Apple ID. If a device is reported lost or stolen, it can be remotely locked, making it unusable even after a factory reset. This requires the original owner's Apple ID and password to reactivate.<ref>NWIDA (April 12, 2024). [https://nwida.org/what-is-apple-activation-lock-and-should-repair-shops-be-worried#:~:text=Apple%20will%20also%20extend%20its,stolen%20iPhone%20from%20being%20reactivated "What is Apple Activation Lock and should repair shops be worried?"]. ''NWIDA''. Retrieved March 25, 2026. ([https://web.archive.org/web/20251109102436/https://nwida.org/what-is-apple-activation-lock-and-should-repair-shops-be-worried Archived])</ref><ref name=":0">Apple (September 18, 2024). [https://support.apple.com/guide/security/activation-lock-security-sec0f8dfd030/web "Activation Lock security"]. ''Apple Support''. Retrieved March 25, 2026. ([https://web.archive.org/web/20260220120250/https://support.apple.com/en-gb/guide/security/sec0f8dfd030/web Archived])</ref>
-'''[[iCloud]] activation:''' macOS devices (MacBooks, iMacs) require periodic authentication with Apple's servers. If a device is flagged in Apple's systems it may be locked out during these server checks.<ref name=":0" /><ref>Hardwick, Tim (January 27, 2023). [https://9to5mac.com/2023/01/27/2020-macs-landfill/ "Two-year-old Macs are being sent to the landfill because of Activation Lock"]. ''9to5Mac''. Retrieved March 25, 2026.</ref>
+'''[[iCloud]] activation:''' macOS devices (MacBooks, iMacs) require periodic authentication with Apple's servers. If a device is flagged in Apple's systems it may be locked out during these server checks.<ref name=":0" /><ref>Hardwick, Tim (January 27, 2023). [https://9to5mac.com/2023/01/27/2020-macs-landfill/ "Two-year-old Macs are being sent to the landfill because of Activation Lock"]. ''9to5Mac''. Retrieved March 25, 2026. ([https://web.archive.org/web/20250822182040/https://9to5mac.com/2023/01/27/2020-macs-landfill/ Archived])</ref>
-'''T2 and Apple silicon security:''' Modern MacBooks with T2 chips or Apple Silicon (M1, M2, M3 processors) include firmware-level security that communicates with Apple servers during boot and recovery operations. This can render the device unusable if Apple's servers indicate the device should be locked.<ref>Apple (September 18, 2024). [https://support.apple.com/guide/security/the-secure-enclave-sec59b0b31ff/web "The Secure Enclave"]. ''Apple Support''. Retrieved March 25, 2026.</ref>
+'''T2 and Apple silicon security:''' Modern MacBooks with T2 chips or Apple Silicon (M1, M2, M3 processors) include firmware-level security that communicates with Apple servers during boot and recovery operations. This can render the device unusable if Apple's servers indicate the device should be locked.<ref>Apple (September 18, 2024). [https://support.apple.com/guide/security/the-secure-enclave-sec59b0b31ff/web "The Secure Enclave"]. ''Apple Support''. Retrieved March 25, 2026. ([https://web.archive.org/web/20260110131641/https://support.apple.com/en-gb/guide/security/sec59b0b31ff/web Archived])</ref>
-'''Mobile device management (MDM):''' Organizations using Apple Business Manager can remotely manage, lock, or wipe devices. If purchased through corporate or educational programs, devices may have MDM profiles that persist even after resale.<ref>Apple (March 1, 2024). [https://support.apple.com/guide/deployment/lock-and-locate-devices-depb980a0be4/web "Lock and locate devices"]. ''Apple Support''. Retrieved March 25, 2026.</ref><ref>Apple (September 16, 2024). [https://support.apple.com/guide/deployment/erase-devices-dep0a819891e/web "Erase devices"]. ''Apple Support''. Retrieved March 25, 2026.</ref>
+'''Mobile device management (MDM):''' Organizations using Apple Business Manager can remotely manage, lock, or wipe devices. If purchased through corporate or educational programs, devices may have MDM profiles that persist even after resale.<ref>Apple (March 1, 2024). [https://support.apple.com/guide/deployment/lock-and-locate-devices-depb980a0be4/web "Lock and locate devices"]. ''Apple Support''. Retrieved March 25, 2026. ([https://web.archive.org/web/20251022232018/https://support.apple.com/en-gb/guide/deployment/depb980a0be4/web Archived])</ref><ref>Apple (September 16, 2024). [https://support.apple.com/guide/deployment/erase-devices-dep0a819891e/web "Erase devices"]. ''Apple Support''. Retrieved March 25, 2026. ([https://web.archive.org/web/20251112222301/https://support.apple.com/en-gb/guide/deployment/dep0a819891e/web Archived])</ref>
 ===Microsoft's mechanisms===