[iBook] Open Password Firmware App No longer works.

[Gregory Martinez]

No, it only kicks in and blocks someone if they try use a CD, or other 
external disc WITHOUT using Startup Disk Preference pane. Presumably 
only a legitimate user will be able to get access to System 
Preferences.

However, the Open Firmware Password application is not ultimate 
security. If your computer is stolen, and the evil-doers gain access to 
the hard drive directly inside the computer, apparantly the firmware 
password no longer protects your data.

As far as I can tell, the best security (particularly laptops) is Apple 
File Vault. Which I think is overkill if you only need some folders 
secured. I've been looking and can not find anything that does what I 
want, they all seem to secure individual files. The Apple Disk Utility 
encryption procedure is just to cryptic and cumbersome.
--
---------------
Greg Martinez
gregmartinez at mac.com
iBook 12" G4, 800MHz, OS 10.3.6, 640 MB RAM.

-----------------
On Dec 28, 2004, at 5:56 AM, RP McKay wrote:

> On 27/12/04 9:03 pm, "Gregory Martinez" <gregmartinez at mac.com> wrote 
> (in part):
>
>
> I figured it out. If you select another disk in Startup Disk, it will 
> boot up from that disk. It is only when someone inserts a disk or 
> attaches a drive (without being able to select it in Startup Disk) 
> that the Open Firmware Password  app will stop the disk from booting.
>
>
>  Hi Greg,
>
>  I was just wondering if the same thing happens when one uses the open 
> firmware password feature but not the GUI application for this? At 
> what stage does the GUI app become active and request the password? I 
> would have thought that the non GUI password feature would protect the 
> machine hardware that is booting and therefore it wouldn’t matter what 
> disk it was booting later...Maybe the GUI app is stored on the disk 
> and that is why there is this situation. It would be interesting to 
> hear from someone using the OF Password feature but not using the GUI 
> app for this feature.
>
>  That may provide a solution for you (albeit not the simplest or 
> desired one).
>
>  The only drawback to the non GUI app password protection is the fact 
> that you are in open firmware and whoever is trying to get access to 
> the computer can still do some irreparable damage if they are so 
> inclined.
>
>  Cheers,
>
>  Richard
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