power-on password?

marvin*1*2 · Aug 7, 2007

so I copied the 'Firmware Password Utility' off dvd1 to set that password...I restarted and nothing's changed... I must've missunderstood, I thought that would give me a power-on password but it seems to merely protect my notebook against reinstalling / resetting....correct?
and does it only ask for authentication when using dvds other than my own that came with the mac?

if so, is there no way to have a simple power-on password like all bios-sw on non-macs have?
wouldn't it be nice to then enable auto-login so that you have only one fairly secure password at the very beginning of the boot sequence?

XheartcoreboyX · Aug 7, 2007

System preferences>accounts then click on your account name then 'login options'(check that the lock is off) in the bottom and untick ''Automatically log in as''
hope it will work.

i switched to macs before a week,so i hope im right about this XD

Lixivial · Aug 7, 2007

No, it doesn't block startup.

It blocks the following:

Completely blocks* cmd-S (single user mode)

Completely blocks* cmd-V (verbose mode)

Completely blocks* "C", "N", "T", "D"

Completely blocks* command-option-P-R (to reset PRAM)

Prompts for password when using option to switch between bootable partitions/disks

Prompts for password to command-option-o-f (to boot to Open Firmware; PowerPC Macintoshes only) issue Open Firmware commands.

*"Completely blocks" meaning that these keys are disabled and cannot be used at all.

I definitely wouldn't rely on an Open Firmware or BIOS password as my form of security for an entire tome of reasons.

EDIT: Correction on the last bulleted point.

xUKHCx · Aug 7, 2007

Here is a list of what Firmware password protection does, take from apple's kb

Quote

Features of Open Firmware Password Protection

When turned on using one of the models listed above, Open Firmware Password Protection:

Blocks the ability to use the "C" key to start up from an optical disc.
Blocks the ability to use the "N" key to start up from a NetBoot server.
Blocks the ability to use the "T" key to start up in Target Disk Mode (on computers that offer this feature).
Blocks the ability to start up in Verbose mode by pressing the Command-V key combination during startup.
Block the ability to start up a system in Single-user mode by pressing the Command-S key combination during startup.
Blocks a reset of Parameter RAM (PRAM) by pressing the Command-Option-P-R key combination during startup.
Requires the password to use the Startup Manager, accessed by pressing the Option key during startup (see below).
Requires the password to enter commands after starting up in Open Firmware, which is done by pressing the Command-Option-O-F key combination during startup.

When turned on using an Intel-based Macintosh, Open Firmware Password Protection:

Blocks the ability to use the "C" key to start up from an optical disc.
Blocks the ability to use the "N" key to start up from a NetBoot server.
Blocks the ability to use the "T" key to start up in Target Disk Mode (on computers that offer this feature).
Blocks the ability to use the "D" key to start up from the Diagnostic volume of the Install DVD.
Blocks the ability to start up a system in Single-user mode by pressing the Command-S key combination during startup.
Blocks a reset of Parameter RAM (PRAM) by pressing the Command-Option-P-R key combination during startup.
Requires the password to use the Startup Manager, accessed by pressing the Option key during startup (see below).
Click to expand...

marvin*1*2 · Aug 7, 2007

thanks guys for those detailed answers.

hm, but does the fact that there is no mention of power-on password really mean that there is no such thing in the mac world?

how odd! why not?
it would be nice to have a power-on password in the VERY beginning, wouldn't it? i.e. press power button, 2secs later type in password and some min later start working, no more wait - type pw - wait again...

way more efficient, secure and simple.
of course, nothing's bulletproof, any bios-pw can be reset with a bios-update or something similar (or by opening the case in the worst case) but as I'd auto-login into my non-admin user, I don't see how I would reduce security with this...

power-on password?

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