Does my login password provide any security if my computer is stolen? Or could my files be easily accessed by the average user on macrumors?
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Does my login password provide any security if my computer is stolen?
- Thread starter ItDoesntMatter
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Minimal and Yep in that order.
If that is a concern, create an encrypted disk using disk utlity and use that for sensitive files. Be aware that this will likely give you a space problem with Time Machine, ( if you use that).
Or enable FileVault, which does just that.
-> System Preferences -> Security -> FileVault.
It's not bulletproof, but it's better than nothing.
As you're running OS X 10.4 Tiger, I'm going to go out on a limb and assume that you've got a FireWire port. Boot into Target Disk Mode, plug 'er in to another Mac via FireWire, and browse away.
If you're worried about loss/theft, be proactive. Change the message on your login screen (using OnyX or similar) to offer a cash reward no-questions-asked for the return of your Mac. And take a permanent marker and write your name and phone # and "cash reward for return" inside the battery compartment (laptop) or on the bottom of the stand (iMac). In most cases when a laptop is stolen it's quickly pawned or traded for a hit of crack or meth and chances are, the actual thief won't even turn it on. A message hidden inside will be missed by the druggies, but may prompt a subsequent owner (or service tech) to call you.
And dude if this question is ultimately about hiding your porn from snooping family members -- just keep it on a USB memory stick and hide it under your bed.
If you're worried about loss/theft, be proactive. Change the message on your login screen (using OnyX or similar) to offer a cash reward no-questions-asked for the return of your Mac. And take a permanent marker and write your name and phone # and "cash reward for return" inside the battery compartment (laptop) or on the bottom of the stand (iMac). In most cases when a laptop is stolen it's quickly pawned or traded for a hit of crack or meth and chances are, the actual thief won't even turn it on. A message hidden inside will be missed by the druggies, but may prompt a subsequent owner (or service tech) to call you.
And dude if this question is ultimately about hiding your porn from snooping family members -- just keep it on a USB memory stick and hide it under your bed.
how about bios password ? i am sorry i am new to this
You'd have some trouble seeing as Macs don't have a BIOS. However, you can set a firmware password from the OS X installer. It doesn't secure your data, however. There's a saying: if a hacker has physical access to your computer, your data is already compromised. The computer can always be disassembled and the data read using another computer.
It's worked for me so far.
PGP is operating "closer to the disk" than file vault, what does that mean, basically the whole disk is protected in a way that the OS does not notice, so time machine works in a sensible way.
With file vault, only users files are protected and protection is in a way which is not so sensible for time machine.
Which is better? no idea, but I would not trust Apple to ever write a good encryption solution after experiencing file vault. Apple is good at making shiny boxes, PGP is good at encryption.
EOS.
Seeing as the OP is using 10.4, I don't think Time Machine compatibility is a huge consideration.
Google "Changing OS X passwords without Disks" and you'll see that it's quite simple.