The T2 is not incredibly new as one might expect. On the newest Macs, T2 chips are the foundation for new features like the APFS encrypted storage system, a more robust secure boot process, and the TouchID authentication on Macs. They operate separately from the main CPU, been used exclusively to handle encryption related operations in a secure, hard-to-tamper chipset. In summary for those not wanting to read the entire white paper, the T2 is a secure co-processor that is embedded in the latest Apple devices. “All Mac portables with the Apple T2 Security Chip feature a hardware disconnect that ensures that the microphone is disabled whenever the lid is closed…This disconnect is implemented in hardware alone, and therefore prevents any software, even with root or kernel privileges in macOS, and even the software on the T2 chip, from engaging the microphone when the lid is closed.” In a white paper published by Apple detailing the new chips features Apple had the following to say,

While Apple doesn't like to talk about malware, recently there are quite a few browser hijackers (for example weknow.ac, ), potentially unwanted applications (for example advanced mac cleaner, mac cleanup pro) and adware (for example CoinTicker, MacOSDefender) targeting Mac OS operating system. Secretly recording user conversations using the webcam, for example, has become a staple feature of many spyware and other malware variants over the last several years. This new feature can be seen as a security enhancement designed to prevent malware from secretly recording users. Apple further revealed that all new notebooks that come with a built-in T2 security chip will now disconnect the built-in microphone at the hardware level when users close their devices' lids. It has almost been a week since Apple unveiled the new MacBook Air in Brooklyn, New York, the reveal was important for another reason.

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