Is it actually possible to reset any OS X computer's password with an OS X CD?
My brother told me this the other day... he said that he can just take an OS X installer CD and hold down a certain key combo at startup and reset any OS X computer's password. And he's done it before too!
Tell me, are OS X computers REALLY that insecure? Or is there some way to lock down that feature?
Tell me, are OS X computers REALLY that insecure? Or is there some way to lock down that feature?
Comments
- Boot up from the Mac OS X Installer CD.
To lock down yor mac see <a href="http://www.osxfaq.com/Tutorials/lockdown/index.ws" target="_blank">this page</a> on OSX FAQs (again at the bottom). Of course, there is a way to get around the Open Firmware password by changing the physical amount of RAM in the machine and double zapping the P-RAM so if you are really worried, get a computer lock for your machine.Once you have reached the initial Installer screen, select Reset Password from the Installer menu. This will automatically launch the Reset Password application.
With Reset Password active, select the Mac OS X volume which contains the password you wish to change.
After selecting the Mac OS X volume, click on the popup menu for the admin user that you want to reset the password.
Once you have selected the admin user, type in the new password that you want in both the "Enter a new password for this user" and in "Reenter the new password for this user" fields.
Now click on the Save button to save the new password for this user.
After clicking on the Save button, go ahead and quit the Reset Password application which will bring you back to the initial Installer screen.
From the initial Installer screen, select Quit Installer for the Installer menu.
You will then be prompted on whether you want to quit, select the Restart button in this dialog to restart your machine.
[edit: added "lock down" part and silly typo]
[ 02-11-2003: Message edited by: The Milkman ]</p>
Knowledge Base article and download <a href="http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=120095" target="_blank">here</a>.
<strong>My brother told me this the other day... he said that he can just take an OS X installer CD and hold down a certain key combo at startup and reset any OS X computer's password. And he's done it before too!
Tell me, are OS X computers REALLY that insecure? Or is there some way to lock down that feature?</strong><hr></blockquote>
What do u mean insecure ??? even with a Sun solaris box (regarded as mega secure) you can do this - if you want to diable it - just lock down the firmware... but its good to have the option though....
You have to be able to get complete access to a computer somewhere, or else a computer is worthless. Right now, this is the physical location of a computer. If the palladium nightmare comes true, this will be Redmond, Washington.
Barto