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Writer's pictureBurton Kelso, Tech Expert

How Can I Protect My Mac From 'GoFetch' Cyber Attacks?

Updated: Apr 10



You purchased an iMac, Macbook, or Mac Mini because you thought Apple computers were immune from cyber attacks. Unfortunately, experts from various American universities have uncovered a new vulnerability in Apple M-series processors that can allow criminals to remotely access your sensitive files, but also can allow them to remove data encryption you may have installed on your Mac to protect it. This vulnerability has been dubbed 'GoFetch' and it takes advantage of the processes Apple's M-series processors use to fetch data that make these processors run faster. Read more to find out more about this dangerous breach.


Hardware and software manufacturers frequently reach out to the tech community to ask them to find vulnerabilities within their products. When these vulnerabilities are found, security updates are issued to protect your devices from a cyber attack. Most security flaws are software-based, which are easy to patch. The 'Go Fetch' flaw is hardware-based, which means Apple can't patch it with a simple software update. GoFetch has been described as unpatchable for the M1 and M2 but not the M3. 


What Should You Do If You Own a Mac?

Apple released the M1 processor in 2020 and the M2 processor in 2022. If you own a Mac with an M1 or M2 processor, there is not much you can do other than practice safe computing habits. That means regularly updating your operating system and software and only installing software from reputable sources to prevent malware infections. Also, keep in mind that the 'Go Fetch' exploit doesn't require physical access to the computer which means criminals can send malicious code to your computer via, email links, website links and via tech support scams that allow them access to your computer.


Hopefully, this will help you keep an eye out for 'Go Fetch' If you have any questions, please reach out. I'm always available.


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Want to ask me a tech question? Send it to burton@callintegralnow.com. I love technology. I've read all of the manuals and I'm serious about making technology fun and easy to use for everyone. 


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The above content is provided for information purposes only. All information included therein is subject to change without notice. I am not responsible for any direct or indirect damages, arising from or related to the use of or reliance on the above content.



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