To avoid purchasing a locked M1 MacBook, always perform these checks before handing over any money: Action Item What to Look For

bypass this without their help. The lock is tied to their Apple Account at the hardware level. Remote Removal:

Many widely advertised bypass tools relied on the famous exploit. This hardware vulnerability allowed deep, low-level access (DFU mode overrides) to older Apple chips, including the T2 security chip in Intel Macs.

Every M1 chip has a Unique ID (UID) burned into its silicon during manufacturing. This ID cannot be altered by software or firmware updates.

On older Intel-based Macs, security protocols were isolated. Security chips like the T2 could sometimes be bypassed or flashed using external hardware tools. M1 architecture changed the game.