Has Anything Replaced Open Firmware Password?

It's a loaded question you're using in someways. If what you mean is, "Is there an Open Firmware equivalent for Intel-based Macs?" then the answer is yes. See the following Apple KB article for full details: http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1352
======
YES, that's what I meant. I have a late 2010 MacBook Pro w/ Core-i7 CPU
I read the article and I find confusing info. In one paragraph it says Intel Macs use EFI and in the following paragraph It says "Any Intel Based Mac" can use Open Firmware*
"All Intel-based Macintosh computers support firmware password protection.
The following Apple computers can use the Open Firmware Password application:
▪ iMac (Slot Loading) and later models of G3 iMac
▪ iMac (Flat Panel) and later models of G4 iMac
▪ iMac G5 and later models of G5 iMac
▪ iBook - all models, both G3- and G4-based
▪ eMac - all models
▪ PowerBook (FireWire)
▪ PowerBook G4 and later models of G4 PowerBook
▪ Power Mac G4 (AGP Graphics) and later models of G4 Power Mac
▪ Power Mac G4 Cube - all models
▪ Power Mac G5 and later models of G5 Power Mac
▪ Any Intel-based Mac*
▪ MacBook Air: see MacBook Air: Recovering a lost EFI firmware password"
So do I use Open Firmware or EFI?
"Apple make up your mind please..."

Similar Messages

Fix for RAM removable Open Firmware Password?

Hello people from Apple Discussions,
I have a burning question that has been tormenting me for years.
Mac OSX is branded as supposedly the safest operating system around today.
What completely astounds me though is that any user password can be quickly hacked, by booting into the Single User Mode where you immediately gain root access.
In my search for a fix I have come across semi-solutions like:
"install an open firmware password!"
I felt relieved, reassured and assumed my problem was solved.
Unfortunately this is bloody useless because one could remove a RAM module and voila! Gone is the Open Firmware Password.
What alternative (other than to permanently glue to ram module in place) is there to this security hole that exists today?
Thank you all very much for reading.
I hope this gets fixed, for the sake of all mac users.
Very Kind regards,
Luuc.

I don't believe Open Firmware passwords are stored in RAM. I believe it's an electrically programmable EAROM. Pulling a RAM module shouldn't affect the security of the computer.
You can take it to ridiculous levels. What's to stop someone from just removing the disk drives? If someone has physical access to your computer then they can get into it and see anything that's not encrypted.

Open Firmware password works or doesn't work on MBP?

I'm confused...
This article describes how to set up Open Firmware Password on Macs, including, Intel-based Macs and even states what OFP disables on Intel-based Macs when enabled:
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=106482
just to finish the article at the bottom with the following sentence:
"Note that Intel-based Macintosh computers do not use Open Firmware. Thesesteps do not apply to Intel-based machines."
So, what is what? OFP works or not on MBP? If yes then what works and what doesn't?
I've read one post here stating that it didn't stop booting from CD at all.
An expert advice will be appreciated.

I'm another confused MBP user.
I have a 15" MacBook Pro (MBP) and want to protect the Intel based machine using Apple's Open Firmware Application.
Since the MBP doesn't have an open firmware layer, how do you apply a firmware password? Apple's site is of no help and has conflicting information.
I tried the OF Application (V 1.1) from the Tiger install DVD and receive a message about my firmware being too old to use with the application. The MBP SMC version is 1.2f10 and the Boot ROM is version MBP11.0055.B03. Both are current.
Has anyone been successful???
thanks

Open Firmware Password..oops

Today I decided to see if the startup disc on my external HD was working properly. I went to System Preferences and clicked over to the Maxtor as my prefered choice. I did not click the lock at the bottom. I then clicked Restart, everything on the desktop dismounted and the screen went dark and then came back up with the gray screen with the spinning wheel....and stayed there.
I noticed that there was a circle with a line through it and then I noticed that my iPod was still connected, it was dismounted and charging.
I shut off the power, to the iMac, disconnected the iPod and turned the power back on, and the gray screen with flashing folder with a question mark appeared.
I went to the MacBook and did a search in the discussions and the only thing I could find out was that I needed to boot from the install discs, hence the oops.
I have Undercover installed, and part of their setup is to enable the Open Firmware Password.
How can I get my iMac up and running if I can't use the install discs or target disc mode?
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

ddougYo, I have the Orbicule software on 5 MAcs (it nearly got one that was stolen back for me too) and also had its predecessor, Lapcop which also used the Open Firmware Password utility.
You are not going to be able to boot up until you can get through the Firmware Password Utility and there are only two ways: the password itself, or the method that Baltwo has suggested. If the password is not working then you have possibly not entered it correctly.
If, for some strange (unidentified) reason that is not the case, then Baltwo's solution is all you have left. Have a look at the manual: getting the iMac's RAM out should not be hard. Do you have one or two modules? If one, try putting it in the other slot.

Open Firmware Password Doesn't Work

I've been using O.F.P. v 1.05 on both my computers for over a year. All has been well until recently. Now when I reboot holding down the option key I either get the O.F.P. screen without the password line so I can choose any bootable disk or I get the password line, but when I enter the password nothing happens and I have to reboot normally.
Both computers running 10.4.3 with all latest updates.
What's going on?

Well, I just searched the Apple Support Knowledge Base and found this text here at http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=106482. In the section "How to enable the Open Firmware Password" it says right in the first paragraph:
1. For Mac OS X 10.1 to 10.3.9, Download and Install the Open Firmware Password application, which you can get here. For Mac OS X 10.4 or later, you must use the updated version that can be copied from the software installation disc (located at /Applications/Utilities/ on the disc).
The link for version prior to 10.4.x leads to OFP 1.0.2, so 1.0.5 might already be the updated version that ships with Tiger. I can not check right now because I am not at home where my copy of Tiger is; maybe others can check it in the meantime.
If you not already have done so, maybe you could try to update 10.4.x to the latest version (which is 10.4.3) and get all other available patches as well, just to make sure.
Regards
Jim
AiPB 15 1,25 GHz;; iMac 17 1 GHz (flat panel) Mac OS X (10.4.3)
UPDATE: And I doublechecked that I am indeed running version 1.1 (1) of OFP on my installation. I am not aware of having it updated manually, so it must either have been this all along since I installed Tiger or been updated in the procress.
Message was edited by: Jim Knopf

Zap PRAM with Open Firmware Password?

I'm wondering if there is any way to do this...
I have an older MacBook that had some kind of issue recently, that first prevented it from booting at all, and after resetting the SMC it would boot but the screen is black...
I remember from many years ago that there was an issue with the screen staying black that would be fixed by zapping the pram...
Problem is the system has an Open Firmware password. And while I do know what that passowrd is, it's kind of impossible to go in and disble it with a black screen...
In essense, is there any possible way I can zap the PRAM that doesn't involve psychicly guessing what I'm doing???

I'm fully aware of the key combination. The problem is when Open Firmware password is enabled, holding CMD-OPT-P-R has no effect.... The only way I know to be able to use the key combiantion is to disalbe the Open Firmware password first, then reboot and hold hte keys down.
Which is where my problem lies, as I can't zap the PRAM until I disable my Open Firmware password, and I can't go though the steps to disable my Open Firmware password until after I zap the PRAM in order to re-enable my screen...

Safe Mode & Open Firmware Password

I have the Open Firmware Password enabled, which prevents my machine from booting into Safe Mode when I hold the shift key at startup (as expected). As a result, if I want to use Safe Mode, I have to boot up from my install DVD, disable the password and then reboot. Very tiime consuming!
I just read about an Apple Support document about a way to boot into Safe Mode by entering the following terminal command:
sudo nvram boot-args="-x"
Has anyone tried this before? I'm a little hesitant to test it out in case I run into some sort of Open Firmware/Safe Mode conflict.

Try booting while holding the Option key. It should ask for the firmware password, then let you use boot modifier keys.

Open Firmware Password Utility?

The Utilities folder on the Install DIsc 1 of my new iMac still includes an Open Firmware Password Utility. Of course, there is no Open Firmware on these new Macs, so I assume it does not do anything.
However, it is listed as an updated Universal application, and it did allow me to enter a password. So I thought maybe it was accessing EFI somehow.
On the other hand, entering the password did not prevent me from later booting from the Install DVD. So it appears to do nothing after all.
But if it does nothing, why is it there at all?
Cann anyone sort out this confusion? Thanks.
Power Mac G5

Bah Humbug! You solved it. Would still rather have the old utility from 10.3 days in my utilities folder.
Thanks and Merry Xmas/Chanukah/Kwanza...

Intel iMac, Open Firmware Password Protection and booting from CD

I have an Intel iMac I'm setting up for use in a public library. I want to prevent single user login with the Open Firmware Password Protection utility, but if I do, how do I boot from the OS disc, zap PRAM, etc? The OFPP page has instructions on removing the OF password, but it does not work on Intel Mac's. Also, is there an alternative way to prevent single user login?

No, you were right, I just misunderstood. Technically it's called single-user mode. But, you were right.
Anyway,
Since it seems that there might not be an answer directly related to your topic you could maybe give this a try.
In Simple Finder the user can not restart or shutdown. They can only sleep and log out.
The other problem, however, is if they log out then there are those Sleep, Restart, and Shut Down buttons on the login screen. Luckily, though they can be turned off.
So as of now, if some is logged in in a Simple Finder account they can not restart or shut down the computer in order to get into single-user mode. They can also not get into the Administer account since it is password protected.
The only problem I can see with this is that a person could do a hard shut down, hold the power button down until it turns off, and then boot up and enter single-user mode.
If you want to go ahead and do this, in order to get the computer up and running in the mean time, just post back and I'll be glad to help you set up a Simple Finder account.

Open Firmware Password option in Lion?

When I upgraded to Lion on my mid-2009 MacBook Pro yesterday, I discovered that the Open Firmware app from Snow Leopard no longer works. Is there an Open Firmware Password app for Lion? Normally, I'd pull it from the disk after install, but obviously there's no disk for Lion. Thanks for you help!

It might be easy to circumvent, but I didn't say you had to use only this password...
It is an additional protection...
And if your Mac gets stolen by someone who is less an expert, he won't be able to (easily) reinstall anything on your Mac...

Open Firmware Password Installation

Hi,
I am trying to put an open firmware password on my powerbook running 10.4, but I can't find the Tiger install CD. Is the 10.4 open firmware password application available anywhere online?
Thanks

You'll need the install disc, as the others have said.
Are you sure you really need to set the firmware password? It has a very limited use, can be easily defeated, and many users misunderstand its intended purpose. For example, some believe that setting a firmware password will keep their data safe in case the Mac is lost or stolen. It won't.

Where is the "Open Firmware Password" utility on the 10.5 disk?

Ok, I want to set the Open Firmware Password on my MacBook Pro. I'm running 10.5.2. I read that you have to get it from the 10.5 install disk but I cannot find it.
Anybody know where it's hidden?
Thanks,
Mark

Everything you need to know is here: http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=106482
EDIT: Oops, it looks like that document has not yet been updated for Leopard.
You need to boot from your 10.5 DVD, select English, and then select Firmware Password Utility from the Utilities menu.

Any one know how to reset the open firmware password?

iBook G4. 1.33ghz. 1GB RAM.30 or 40GB HDD. Running 10.5.8
I got this from a friend, who got it from a friend. And its acting funny. It works. But a lot of options are missing from the System Preferences pane. And another friend said to reset the NVRAM and all the setting in the open firmware. Only no one seems to know the open firmware password. And I can't seem to find how you'd reset all the setting in the open firmware. I'm working on locating the installation disks for this iBook. But will that even help me with this resetting open firmware business?

I did a google search and here is one link that might have some helpful information -
http://www.macforensicslab.com/ProductsAndServices/index.php?mainpage=document_general_info&productsid=69&zenid=74f4076fb96074db45dc274f7de86bc6

How can I reset the open firmware password?

I wanted to installed Mac OS X Lion from scratch on my newly purchased MBP 15,4"
I put the installESD.dmg on a USB pendrive, then I boot on it. I used Disk utility to erase en encrypte my drive, and at the same time I set the Open firmware password.
I launched the installation process, after a while the computer reboot but I got an error:
there was a problem installing mac os x try reinstalling
I google this error and found many people who solved this issue by erasing the PRAM using the shortcut: cmd + opt + P + R. I'm asked to enter the password which I did but it's still keeping asking for the password so I guess its wrong which is weird cause I typed it in few minutes ago, so I might have done twice a typing error or I don't know.
So my question is how can I reset this password to be able to install my OS? (I cannot access to any OS cause the installation process failed).
Thnak you for your help

Yes I did use the disk utility to restore the dmg on my USB drive. The USB drive is perfectly fine, I can boot on it without any problem, well before setting this open firmware password I could do it.
Now the situation is:
No system installed,
Lock with a password
I have the disk to install SL but I cannot boot on the DVD because it is asking me for this password.

HT1352 Open Firmware password can't be opened - "legacy image should be converted"

Hi,
I have downloaded Open Firmware Password.dmg at the link provided in the article. Anytime I try to open it, a message comes up: "The following disk images couldn't be opened: Open Firmware Password.dmg, Reason: legacy image should be converted." What does this mean and what am I supposed to do? Can anybody help me please? Thanks!
Sorry, problem's been solved. Found this discussion https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3158789?start=0&tstart=0.
Message was edited by: Tony McAre

I selected Recovery Partition and then Disk Utility after pressing option at startup. I went to that Mac OS X Boot thing on the list with the hard drives are (like the screen shot in this discussion https://discussions.apple.com/message/18168530#18168530), but I was not able to take any actions. All Buttons were shielded out. It would be very nice if you could describe what to do once more in detail, so that I might understand it better. Thank you!!

Has Anything Replaced Open Firmware Password?

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for