How To Set A Mac Firmware Password

Protect Your Inve$tment, Mac Lock Down.

If you have been following along and finished watching Part 1 in the last Episode, titled: “ How To Reset Mac OS X Forgotten Password”, you will know how easy it was for anyone to change a users Password in under 60 Seconds.

TRANSCRIPT:

It's time for Part 2: Protect Your Inve$tment, Mac Lock-Down.

lock-down your Mac more securely using a Firmware Encryption Password.

I won’t go over as to the requirements for your Mac, as this was already covered in Part 1.

Briefly, your Mac needs to have a Recovery HD partition.

So with that out of the way…Let’s Get Started.

PART 2: Mac System Lock-Down.

Probably the best reason to create a Firmware Encryption Password is for protection of your precious and valuable data on your hard , especially in the event that your Mac portable is lost or stolen.

In essence, a Firmware Encryption Password is a Master Password that is required whenever  a keyboard key or key combinations is pressed after turning on or restarting a Mac.

And now for the Warning bit:

WARNING!
To put in in a simple terms, If you forget your Firmware Password, then basically...You are up a creek without a paddle...Literally.

Only way to Un-Lock your Mac is by taking it to an Apple Store.

So with that out of the way, let's proceed on setting the Firmware Encryption Password.

The Firmware Encryption Password option is found on the OS X Utilities Window and can be accessed in one of two ways, directly, by pressing and holding down the Command and R keys or via. The Recovery HD, by pressing and holding down the Option Key after turning on or restarting the Mac.


Now from the OS X Utilities menu bar, Click Utilities then select Firmware Password Utility

Now click on the Turn On Firmware Password... Button

Now enter and verify a New Password. Please note, this password has nothing to do with your Apple ID password or your Mac User password, but a Master Encrypted Password for your Mac.

I CANNOT STRESS THE IMPORTANCE TO REMEMBER THIS PASSWORD AS MENTIONED EARLIER…SO WRITE IT DOWN RIGHT NOW AND STORE IT AWAY IN A SAFE PLACE.

So, assuming that you have finished storing the Firmware Encryption Password in a safe place, it’s time to put it to a test.

After pressing the Power Button and whenever you hold down either one of the following keyboard key or key combinations you are asked to enter your Firmware Encryption Password to unlock your Mac, otherwise pressing just the Power Button brings your to your normal login Screen.

And finally, if you want to turn off or change the Firmware Password, from the OS X Utilities menu bar, select Firmware Password Utility again and a pop-up window will appear, allowing you to do so.

And there you have it...your Mac is Now Locked down.

Thanks for watching and thumbs-up if you liked this video, and please, don't forget to subscribe to be notified of the next episode.

Thanks and peace.