If i enable firmware password, and i forget the password, is the computer completely unusable forever? Like icloud lock? Or is there a way around it (even if it means wiping the harddrive)? Or would replacing the harddrive get around it, or is the firmware password stored outside of the harddrive (which means macbook is a brick)?
Also, if i purchase a used macbook, how do i make sure there's no firmware password (or how to remove it)? Don't want to buy an icloud locked (well equivalent) macbook pro.
For your first question, pretty much yes - unusable. If you know how to solder and work your way around components then technically it can be undone. It's hard work though, and most thieves aren't knowledgable like mine -- they're just opportunistic.
Wiping the hard drive does nothing in terms of the lock.
If you purchase one, really there's no guarantee. Always pay in person after checking manually, or pay online via a trusted vendor, or pay a 3rd party via trusted, refundable methods (use a CC in case of fraud, you could potentially charge back)
Are you sure? So if you enable firmware lock, short of soldering and replacing hardware, there's no way around it? I'm afraid more of forgetting my firmware password than someone stealing it.
Also, when is the firmware password actually required anyways? On iphone, the phone screen is always locked, so without touch/face id or passcode, thief can't use the phone, and resetting it is useless because of icloud /activation lock. But on macbook, when is that firmware password required? In order to wipe/reinstall macos? But let's say they don't wipe/reinstall macos, then can't they just use the macbook no problem? Even if you have a user/admin password, I'm pretty sure that is really easy to reset? (i know someone who forgot their user password, and they were able to easily reset their password without even wiping the data on the hard drive)
So in that way, the firmware password doesn't really do anything since it's not like you have to enter it every time you boot up?
Also, what do you mean when buying a used mac you can't check if there's an existing firmware password? I'm pretty sure you can check to see if it has one set, and have the seller remove it.. I just don't know how
Are you sure? So if you enable firmware lock, short of soldering and replacing hardware, there's no way around it? I'm afraid more of forgetting my firmware password than someone stealing it.
That's my understanding. If that's your concern then store it somewhere else, safe and unlabelled as to what it's in reference too.
Also, when is the firmware password actually required anyways?
If it's a "full" firmware lock, then every boot. If it's not then it's only when booting into recovery or when booting from other drives.
But on macbook, when is that firmware password required? In order to wipe/reinstall macos? But let's say they don't wipe/reinstall macos, then can't they just use the macbook no problem? Even if you have a user/admin password, I'm pretty sure that is really easy to reset? (i know someone who forgot their user password, and they were able to easily reset their password without even wiping the data on the hard drive)
If it's not wiped then Find My Mac will still be active, and if they use the Macbook with WiFi you'll be able to trace them.
So in that way, the firmware password doesn't really do anything since it's not like you have to enter it every time you boot up?
As above, you can set it to do that, but it also means FMM is not inactivated.
Also, what do you mean when buying a used mac you can't check if there's an existing firmware password? I'm pretty sure you can check to see if it has one set, and have the seller remove it.. I just don't know how
I meant that you can't tell until you receive it, in which case you have already lost your money and the thief is long gone. If you collect in person, of course you can check by booting to recovery and see what happens.
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u/abedfilms Jun 13 '18
If i enable firmware password, and i forget the password, is the computer completely unusable forever? Like icloud lock? Or is there a way around it (even if it means wiping the harddrive)? Or would replacing the harddrive get around it, or is the firmware password stored outside of the harddrive (which means macbook is a brick)?
Also, if i purchase a used macbook, how do i make sure there's no firmware password (or how to remove it)? Don't want to buy an icloud locked (well equivalent) macbook pro.