Bypassing admin password with terminal

[Ziggyj32]

Hi All

Hopefully you can help me. My 15 year old son has an account on the family mac but he has been downloading bluestacks constantly and i fear he is getting hooked on gaming etc. I put on an admin password on his account to prevent him installing new apps but unfortunately he has now used terminal in recovery mode to change the password.
Does anyone know if I can turn off the ability to reset password using terminal - am running Mojave 10.14

Any help is much appreciated
Regards, etc

 

[KALLT]

You can set a firmware password to prevent booting from other volumes (including Recovery) except the main volume (Macintosh HD).

 

[TiggrToo]

Simple. Take it away from him.

We're too happy these days to relinquish control of our kids to technology. That's a losing proposition.

However if you insist on giving him the benefit of the doubt, then @KALLT 's advice above should be followed as it prevents access to the Recovery Mode console without the firmware password.

 

[CooperBox]

Imho, forget setting a firmware password, which is a sign of loosing 'common-sense' parental-control over your teenage son.
As the above post sensibly suggests, forbid him to use the computer. Sure, all kid's will 'try it on' but should be given a second chance, but not a 3rd!
Simply tell him that if you find he has changed/reset the user password again, that he "will be banned from using the computer for good, period." This is all part of being a good parent and bringing up a child up to be honest, respectful and eventually becoming an adult that you can be proud of.

 

[Erehy Dobon]

TiggrToo and CooperBox have the right mindset.

Adding a firmware password does not address the deeper fundamental problem: the kid no longer respects your authority. Most likely he will ignore your rules about other non-computer related matters.

When he's 18 and moves out of the house on his own, he is free to make his own choices.