Leaked MacBook Schematics Have Aided Independent Technicians Performing Complicated Repairs
Independent technicians have reportedly been able to use leaked MacBook schematics to aid repairs (via Vice).
Last month, Apple supplier Quanta Computer was hit with an attack by the ransomware group known as "REvil," leading to a large quantity of internal Apple documents about both released and unreleased devices being exposed. The leaked PDFs, available on a number of forums and online marketplaces, have apparently helped technicians understand how some MacBook components fit together.
Repair advocate and owner of the Rossmann Repair Group, Louis Rossmann, told Vice:
Our business relies on stuff like this leaking. This is going to help me recover someone's data. Someone is going to get their data back today because of this.
You can't go to Apple and say "I will give you $800,000 to give me this data." When we fix the board, most of the time we preserve the data.
I'm not saying I'm in favor of people hacking into computers to get this information. I would prefer to get this by going to Apple and giving them $1,000 every year to get this information.
Although basic repairs, such as battery replacements, are possible with guides and tools from the likes of iFixit, logic board repairs are considerably more complex and can involve minute adjustments to circuitry and chips, and often risk data loss. Such repairs also have very little margin for error.
Apple does not provide detailed repair manuals and schematics for its hardware, forcing third-party repair technicians to look elsewhere. Simple trial and error can help repair technicians understand how a device's circuitry works, but can be very time-consuming and risk the complete breakage of multiple components.
Reverse-engineered blueprints put together by third parties are often shared online, but the REvil leak has presented a new opportunity for technicians to get specific information to help the repair process.
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Top Rated Comments
Edit: also an arrogant jackass at times.
I don’t care if it’s Apple or John Deer, I have schematics, wiring diagrams, body shop repair, engine rebuilding specifications and more for my Mazda RX8 and Merc S500
I have service guides and schematics for all of my audio gear from the 70s-2000s
Apple should at least release schematics for products they no longer support. What harm would it cause to release a schematic and board layout for someone wanting to repair and fix an iPod HiFi from 2007 or a Mac from 2014?
I might be in the minority, but I’m happy these were leaked. Hopefully they are accurate, but if I want to diagnose and repair my equipment down the the component level, I should be able to do so.
I have no issues with soldered ram as I’ve had to reseat the ram modules in a lot of laptops at school, but storage should be removable. It can’t be due to security of the T2 chip or M1 chip. The Mac Pro uses socketed storage.
Dam I'd be happy for a removable HD/SSD, what a good idea that'll be!
Great video where Rossmann is interviewed regarding right to repair stuff, is good to hear his take on things.
Here's a fairly high end 1TB Samsung SSD for $130: https://www.newegg.com/samsung-1tb-980/p/N82E16820147804?Description=1tb%20ssd&cm_re=1tb_ssd-_-20-147-804-_-Product
Keep in mind, Apple charges $400 for 1TB when you upgrade from the base model... which should be deducted from the $400 upgrade. In reality, you're paying more than $400.
Again: GREED.