How secure is Macbook protected password?

Or connect an external drive and boot from it.
If you have physical access, everything is possible if the data is not encrypted.

BTW. The user passwords are hashes and are compared against your hashed password input. The account password itself is not stored in cleartext.

This is of course not true for all other passwords stored in your keychain ...
They are accessible after booting from external drives and resetting the original admin password...

 

Curious, have you tried using the "find my mac" feature on icloud.com?

 

To be honest, the average thief is not going to be interested in your data. They just want a quick sale for a bag.

Whoever buys a "bargain" in some pub is likely to want to delete all traces of previous owner, to avoid the constant nagging accusation that it isn't really theirs.

Most people whose hands the laptop will pass through are unlikely to conceive of the opportunity to wade through your data for something to exploit, or lack the ability to use that data in an effective criminal manner.

As said, have you tried Find My MAc on iCloud? You may even be able to lock the device remotely, if it's set up.

 

No encryption means easy access. However, this will happen only if the thief is interested in your data. Most likely, it'll get wiped out when he tries to sell ti.

 

Plus you can use a Firmware password and just don't forget the password!