[UniMacTech] What rights do your laptop users have?

[Mervin uy]

Thanks for all the help guys and gals.. I guess I should look into trying to
TEACH these people that they can't take it..

Merv

On 10/02/09 2:57 PM, "Nigel Kersten" <nigel at explanatorygap.net> wrote:

> Unless it's a Macbook Air, bypassing the firmware password on a Mac
> laptop is so trivial I consider it a bad idea simply because of the
> false sense of security it engenders.
> 
> Anyone who is an admin can reset it.
> 
> Anyone who can change the amount of RAM in the machine can reset it.
> 
> And somewhat less likely, any machine that you can boot into OS 9 can
> be bypassed even more trivially.
> 
> Firmware passwords are not the solution to your Macs going wandering...
> 
> On Mon, Feb 9, 2009 at 2:39 PM, Mervin uy <mervin.uy at usyd.edu.au> wrote:
>> Thank you all for your responses. I think I am going to look into Shay's
>> response this seems like a good option.. Another question is about Firmware
>> Passwords, in the process of locking down these machines I have started
>> using the Firmware password so that they are unable to start from CD's or
>> Target disk mode.. Are there any other Uni's that use this to lock down the
>> Computer?
>> 
>> The Reason I ask is due to a few incidents of Machine's leaving campus and
>> never returning.
>> 
>> Thank you all
>> 
>> Merv
>> 
>> On 10/02/09 2:42 AM, "Shay Telfer" <shay at cygnus.uwa.edu.au> wrote:
>> 
>>> On 9/02/2009 1:07 PM, Mervin uy wrote:
>>>>  Hi All..
>>>> 
>>>>  Not really asking a tech question today more of a General query, I am
>>>>  currently having issues with admin rights and end users constantly
>>>>  requesting admin rights. I wanted to know what other universities are
>>>>  doing with laptops in regards to End users requesting Admin rights.
>>>> 
>>>>  Cheers all
>>>> 
>>>>  Mervin Uy
>>>>  *Technical Officer
>>>>  *
>>>>  School Of Philosophical and Historical Inquiry
>>>>  *The University of Sydney
>>>>  *Room 607 Brennan Maccallum Building A18, University of Sydney NSW 2006
>>>>  T: +61 2 9351 2538 | F: +61 2 9351 3918 | E: Mervin Uy
>>>>  <_mailto:Mervin.uy at usyd.edu.au_>
>>> 
>>> Note that if you're setting up Mac laptops you may be able to grant
>>> some privileges to users via the /etc/authorization file:
>>> 
>>> <http://www.newtonslore.com/2007/11/28/things-you-can-authorize-in-leopard/>
>>> 
>>> For example, from Apple's Knowledgebase (admittedly for 10.4)
>>> 
>>> http://support.apple.com/kb/TA23576
>>> 
>>> Thanks,
>>> Shay Telfer
>> 
>> Mervin Uy
>> Technical Officer
>> 
>> School Of Philosophical and Historical Inquiry
>> The University of Sydney
>> Room 607 Brennan Maccallum Building A18, University of Sydney NSW 2006
>> T: +61 2 9351 2538 | F: +61 2 9351 3918 | E: Mervin Uy
>> <mailto:Mervin.uy at usyd.edu.au>
>> 
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Mervin Uy
Technical Officer
 
School Of Philosophical and Historical Inquiry
The University of Sydney
Room 607 Brennan Maccallum Building A18, University of Sydney NSW 2006
T: +61 2 9351 2538 | F: +61 2 9351 3918 | E: Mervin Uy
<mailto:Mervin.uy at usyd.edu.au>