Slickdeals is community-supported.  We may get paid by brands for deals, including promoted items.
forum thread Posted by gymtimidator • Sep 3, 2024
forum thread Posted by gymtimidator • Sep 3, 2024

Apple 2024 MacBook Air 13-inch Laptop with M3 chip, 13.6-inch Liquid Retina Display, 8GB Unified Memory, 256GB SSD Storage, Backlit Keyboard, Touch ID; Midnight $899

$900

$1,100

18% off
Amazon
6 Comments 6,743 Views
Get Deal at Amazon
Good Deal
Save
Share
Deal Details
A couple of MacBook Air models are insanely cheap on Amazon right now. I'm buying one myself, so I wanted to share.

https://www.amazon.com/Apple-2024...B0CX23V2ZK
Product Info
Community Notes
About the Poster
Deal Details
Product Info
Community Notes
About the Poster
A couple of MacBook Air models are insanely cheap on Amazon right now. I'm buying one myself, so I wanted to share.

https://www.amazon.com/Apple-2024...B0CX23V2ZK

Community Voting

Deal Score
-3
Good Deal
Get Deal at Amazon

Price Intelligence

Model: Apple MacBook Air Laptop 13.6-Inch Apple M3 Chip 8GB Unified RAM 256GB SSD in Midnight (Early 2024)

Deal History 

Sale Price
Slickdeal
  • $NaN
  • Today
Leave a Comment
To participate in the comments, please log in.

6 Comments

Sign up for a Slickdeals account to remove this ad.

Pro
Sep 3, 2024
9,706 Posts
Joined Nov 2020
Sep 3, 2024
Dr.W
Pro
Sep 3, 2024
9,706 Posts
They are definitely not "insanely cheap". These have been $849 multiple of times.
1
Sep 4, 2024
5,754 Posts
Joined Nov 2013
Sep 4, 2024
ROB.E.REIN
Sep 4, 2024
5,754 Posts
The "GoFetch" vulnerability is a significant security flaw found in Apple's M-series chips, including the M1, M2, and M3 models. This vulnerability is particularly concerning because it is rooted in the hardware design of the chips, making it unpatchable through software updates. The flaw affects the data memory-dependent prefetcher (DMP), a feature designed to improve performance by predicting and preloading data that the CPU might need next.

### **What is the GoFetch Vulnerability?**

- **Nature of the Flaw:** GoFetch is a side-channel attack that targets the DMP in Apple's M-series chips. The DMP is supposed to speed up processing by guessing which data will be needed next and loading it into the CPU cache. However, this feature can be manipulated to leak sensitive information, such as cryptographic keys, by confusing the system into treating data as memory addresses[1][2].

- **Impact:** The vulnerability allows attackers to extract secret keys used in encryption, which could potentially compromise data security. This is particularly problematic for cryptographic operations that rely on constant-time programming, a method designed to prevent timing attacks by ensuring operations take the same amount of time regardless of the input[1][3].

- **Mitigation Challenges:** Since the flaw is embedded in the chip's architecture, it cannot be fixed with a software update. Potential workarounds, like using more secure cryptographic software or disabling the DMP, can significantly impact performance, especially on older M1 and M2 chips[4][5].

### **Explain Like I'm 5 (ELI5)**

Imagine your computer is like a house, and the M-series chip is a super-smart butler who tries to guess what you need next and gets it ready for you. This butler sometimes makes mistakes and leaves important things, like your diary, out in the open. A sneaky thief can then peek at your diary without you knowing. To fix this, you would need a new kind of butler who doesn't make these mistakes, but you can't change the butler you already have.

Citations:
[1] A vulnerability in Apple M-series chips could expose encryption keys and harm performance — and the flaw is 'unpatchable' https://www.itpro.com/security/a-...npatchable
[2] "Unpatchable" flaw in Apple M1/M2/M3 chips: GoFetch is the new ... https://www.intego.com/mac-securi...w-spectre/
[3] Security Vulnerability in Apple's M-Series Chips Puts Mac Users' Crypto Private Keys at Risk https://www.insanelymac.com/forum...s-at-risk/
[4] The major hardware flaw in Apple M-series chips https://securityintelligence.com/...ware-flaw/
[5] There's a vulnerability in Apple's Mac chips–and the fix might be as ... https://www.macworld.com/article/...mance.html
[6] New GoFetch Vulnerability in Apple's M Chips Allows Secret Keys Leak on Compromised Computers https://www.techrepublic.com/arti...e-m-chips/
[7] Unpatchable vulnerability in Apple chip leaks secret encryption keys https://arstechnica.com/security/...mac-chips/
[8] Unpatchable vulnerability discovered in Apple M1, M2 and M3 chips — what you need to know https://www.tomsguide.com/computi...ed-to-know
2
5
Sep 4, 2024
5,160 Posts
Joined Jun 2010
Sep 4, 2024
FAL
Sep 4, 2024
5,160 Posts
Apple ARM $800 for 8/256 since 2020

Window ARM $800 for 16/1TB since 2024

Windows x86 $400 for 16/512 since 2020
1
Sep 4, 2024
885 Posts
Joined Jul 2013
Sep 4, 2024
rldev
Sep 4, 2024
885 Posts
This seems like the price often.
Sep 5, 2024
74 Posts
Joined Oct 2022
Sep 5, 2024
SkillfulHill7878
Sep 5, 2024
74 Posts
Never buy a mac with 8gb if you want to do some media editing kind of operations. 16gb is the minimum you would require.
Sep 5, 2024
54 Posts
Joined Jul 2024
Sep 5, 2024
HonestSnake7260
Sep 5, 2024
54 Posts
Quote from FAL :
Apple ARM $800 for 8/256 since 2020

Window ARM $800 for 16/1TB since 2024

Windows x86 $400 for 16/512 since 2020
That is true but also misleading.

a smartphone with a 50 megapixel camera for $400

a mirrorless camera with a 24 megapixel sensor for $3000


Can you guess which one will get better pictures?

Popular Deals

View All

Trending Deals

View All