Mac tool turns MagSafe cable into a safety switch
A developer has introduced a tool that allows you to put your Mac into a protected state by simply unplugging the MagSafe connection.
(Image: marymash / Shutterstock)
A Mac is – similar to an iPhone – best protected when the machine has been completely shut down. On Macs, SSD encryption FileVault also offers protection – a feature that the iPhone does not have. Therefore, if a MacBook is stolen, it should ideally be in this state so that thieves cannot access the data, even with hacking tools (possibly made available later). But how do you ensure that the machine is shut down? A developer has developed a kind of safety switch or dead man's switch for macOS that uses a clever method to activate: The MagSafe cable, used for charging, serves as the “sensor”.
Cable gone, computer down
The software, called MagSafe Guard, is open source, available under an MIT license, and has a simple principle: “When active, it immediately detects when your power cable is unplugged and triggers protective measures to safeguard your data,” writes creator Tobias Lekman. According to the developer, MagSafe Guard reacts in milliseconds as soon as unplugging the cable is detected. There is also a “smart grace period” that allows you to set that nothing happens until after 10 seconds, so as not to trigger actions yourself. The possibilities offered by the app are extensive. For example, you can just lock the screen or shut down the machine completely. The truly paranoid could even have the entire Mac erased.
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MagSafe Guard is based on an earlier project that used a special USB device and is also compatible with Linux and Windows. Lekman adapted it for Mac hardware, which can do without such an additional device. MagSafe Guard also conveniently runs not only with MagSafe – you can also use other chargers via USB-C. A Software Bill of Materials, listing all components used, is intended to help with code auditing.
Mac App Store version to follow
Also practical: Lekman has incorporated location detection. This way, MagSafe Guard can only activate in unknown locations, but not in trusted ones. This is “perfect for digital nomads, security-conscious professionals, and anyone working with sensitive data in public spaces,” the developer further writes.
Currently, MagSafe Guard is only available via GitHub, as a direct download without automatic updates. However, Lekman plans to provide a Mac App Store version soon. When this will happen is still unclear. MagSafe Guard is free of charge.
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