I forgot my imac firmware password?

[Fishrrman]

[[ I use Filevault2 and a firmware password on my Macbook Air. If someone steals it they get no data and a pretty much worthless, stolen Macbook that won't work. ]]

Won't this all-but guarantee that the computer will never be recovered (by the police, or by you)?

I'm thinking that if a thief finds the computer unusable, they'll just toss it into the garbage somewhere (probably won't even think about stripping it and selling the parts). Then again, I wouldn't be surprised if there are some "computer fences" who are savvy enough to buy late model Macs (even non-bootable ones), and then part them out online.

If the computer remained bootable (even with Filevault enabled, assuming you can boot with FV enabled -- I don't use it), you could have something like "Under Cover" installed, which can assist in recovering a stolen Mac. This yields a much better chance of getting it back. But Under Cover can't work unless the Mac is bootable, correct?


Another thought (unrelated):
If you tried entering the USA from abroad with a Mac that's protected by a firmware password and Filevault, and you are not willing to boot it up and make everything available to the Customs/DHS people, they may simply confiscate it _until_ they can access the contents.

I know this sounds unfair, but under current laws and regulations they can in fact do this.

 

[flynz4]

If my laptop gets stollen... losing the physical machine is the least of worries. They are not that expensive, and can be replaced in a few minutes with a replacement that is as good, or better than the one stollen. TM would have the new machine restored in a few hours.

Losing my identity is the only thing that I would really care about.

The very first thing that I would do is go to "find my phone" and wipe the damn thing. Getting it back is just not that important. Even if I could pinpoint the location... I wouldn't go trying to recover it. Why would I want to put myself into harms way?

In the mean time... for my MBA... I do use FV2, firmware password, and power down when it is left unattended in a semi public location (which for me is usually my hotel room safe). This is the best that I can do to reasonably protect my data from falling into the wrong hands.

/Jim

 

[Weaselboy]

For a laptop, it may make sense to use a firmware password. For a desktop Mac at home, FileVault 2 should be enough, unless you're sharing with people you don't trust. All I care about is protecting the data. If the system gets stolen, all they can do is wipe the disk. If I had a firmware password it won't get me the computer back.

This is true, but I still enable FV2 and EFI PW on every machine just so I have the satisfaction knowing this makes any of my stolen Macs pretty much a paperweight to any thief.

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If the computer remained bootable (even with Filevault enabled, assuming you can boot with FV enabled -- I don't use it), you could have something like "Under Cover" installed, which can assist in recovering a stolen Mac. This yields a much better chance of getting it back. But Under Cover can't work unless the Mac is bootable, correct?

If you turn on Find my Mac and FV2, it creates a Guest, Safari only account on the login screen. The idea is the thief will boot to that account and the machine will connect to the Internet and ping Find my Mac to locate the machine and receive your lock/erase command.

Good article here.

 

[natere2ster]

http://orvtech.com/ataque-fuerza-bruta-pin-icloud-en.html

 

[CarrieMay]

Hi anyone who can help?

On Friday I bought a 2nd hand A1311 iMac at a moving sale. it started up perfectly fine and lovely until I plugged the internet cable in and it became firmware locked with a 6 digit password.

I have spent every day since looking at all of the possible work arounds - plenty for pre-2011 if it was older - and have even taken it to a Mac repairer to see if he could wipe it - but sadly he says there is nothing that can be done. I have no receipts so can't take it to the Apple store to get the firmware password removed. I contacted the previous owner and he said he didn't lock it - it might have been the owner before him. I did get him to remove the iMac from his icloud 'find my phone' account and really hoped that would work - but no. I was going to spend the money to buy a decoder machine - but I have since read that it could take 175 days to decode a 6 digit pin.

So I am wondering if anyone knows of anything that can be done for a post 2011 iMac with a locked firmware password - apart from chucking it in the garbage and taking the financial loss.

 

[maflynn]

Hi anyone who can help?

Contact the seller and ask for the code.

 

[CarrieMay]

I have - he doesn't know it either. he doesnt remember doing it.

 

[maflynn]

I have - he doesn't know it either. he doesnt remember doing it.

There's not much you can really do, because its been put in place as a security measure.

 

[CarrieMay]

There's not much you can really do, because its been put in place as a security measure.

[doublepost=1490612244][/doublepost]OK thanks I hoped there might be some new workaround like the older model workarounds. Maybe I can sell it for spare parts.
[doublepost=1490612520][/doublepost]I think that Apple should recognise that 2nd hand machines are going to be constantly sold and they should be willing to unlock if you provide them with your licence passport or whatever - then if it does turn out to be stolen they can report you. I'd happily provide my details. It's just so disappointing and such a waste of money - and a perfectly good iMac that now has to be thrown in the garbage.

 

[Weaselboy]

On Friday I bought a 2nd hand A1311 iMac at a moving sale. it started up perfectly fine and lovely until I plugged the internet cable in and it became firmware locked with a 6 digit password.

That is a little different than a firmware password, although the same end result. A firmware password is set by the user to prevent the machine from booting to any other disk and is a regular password phrase. What you are seeing is a six digit iCloud Find my Mac security lock down that was likely executed remotely by the owner when their Mac was stolen.