Achieving
Format Resistance:
Formatting the main hard disk requires booting from a floppy or CD-ROM.
You must use some method to prevent booting from them. Ignoring this
step can reduce the effectiveness of the Computer Monitoring and Recovery
System, and put your computer at risk of a virus infection.
Windows Computers
There are a number of methods to prevent booting from a floppy disk
from physical disk locks to purchased security programs. The simplest
and safest solution to use is the security that is already built into
your computer by enabling the computer's CMOS security features. The
CMOS is a storage area on your computer where information is retained
even when the power is turned off. Important information is stored here
about your computer, and is accessed by a special CMOS setup program.
Typically, pressing the DEL key, or another special key sequence is required to access the CMOS setup program. This key is entered before Windows starts. Watch your screen carefully when the computer is first turned on for information on accessing the CMOS setup program (such as "Press F2 to access Setup). You should consult your computer's manual for specific information on using the CMOS setup program.
You
should:
Disable booting from the "A:" floppy disk drive or CD-ROM.
This is done by setting your computer's boot sequence. Enable your computer's
setup password to prevent someone from accessing the computer's CMOS
settings. An incorrect setting in this critical area of the computer
can make the computer non-operative.
Prevent
booting from a Floppy Disk or CD-DVD
Use your computer's built in security to prevent booting from a diskette
or CD. You will need to check your computer's manual on the procedure
to do so (as each computer is different), but typically you can either
disable the A: drive's boot ability, or set the computer's boot sequence
from A:-C:, or CD-ROM:-C to C:-A:, that is, boot from the hard disk
first. It is important that you disable booting from a floppy diskette
to prevent virus infections.
Once you disable booting from a floppy diskette using the computer's CMOS settings, make sure you enable the setup password to prevent someone from accessing the CMOS and enabling booting.
CMOS
Password
Most computers provide some type of password protection in the CMOS
set up parameters. This is an effective way to prevent unauthorized
access to the CMOS setup parameters.
To enter a CMOS password, start the CMOS program (check your computer's manual for instructions), look for a "Security" or "Password" menu item and enter a password for the computer setup.
Resist the temptation to create an easy password. Use passwords that are unique to the computer (don't use passwords used on other computers), and use a combination of upper and lower-case characters, numbers, and words that can't be easily guessed by watching the keyboard.
Macintosh
Computers
The process of formatting the main hard disk requires booting from a
floppy or CD-ROM. You must use some method to prevent booting from them.
Ignoring this step can reduce the effectiveness of the Stealth Signal
System, and put your computer at risk of a virus infection. There are
a number of methods to prevent booting from a floppy disk from physical
disk locks to purchased security programs. But the simplest and safest
solution is to use the Open Firmware Password Application provided by
Apple.
The Open Firmware Password application allows you to enable security features in Open Firmware. You can use it to prevent others from starting your computer using a CD or other disk with an operating system on it. You can use Firmware password protection to enhance access security to your computer.
When you set a Firmware password, it prevents others from starting up the computer from a volume other than the one you have chosen as the startup disk (chosen in the Startup Disk preference panel within the System Preferences.) Once security is enabled, you cannot startup from other devices such as an external FireWire disk, a CD-ROM drive, or another partition or disk inside the computer.
Requirements
This application requires Firmware update 4.1.7 or a later version and
Mac OS X 10.1 or later.
Installing the Firmware Password Application:
1 |
Drag the application icon from the disk image
to your hard disk. Using the Application. |
| 2 |
Make sure that you have selected
the Mac OS X System folder for your startup device that your plan
to protect. If your startup device is correctly selected, you
should be able to select it in the Startup Disk preference pane,
close the preference pane, and not receive a dialog box prompting
you to save the changes. If you do receive this dialog, saving
the changes will set your startup device.Top-up location requests
generating credit card payment or invoice. |
Important:
If you reset the PRAM or Open Firmware, you need to reselect your
startup device prior to resetting the Open Firmware Password.
|
|
| 3 |
Double click the application
icon to open it. |
| 4 |
Click the "Change"
button to modify the security settings. |
| 5 |
If you are enabling
the security features, enter a password into the Password and
Verify boxes. |
| 6 |
Click OK. |
| 7 |
Follow the prompts
to enter your system administrator account. |
You now cannot startup the computer from another device. Resist the temptation to create an easy password. Use passwords that are unique to the computer (don't use passwords used on other computers), and use a combination of upper and lower-case characters, numbers, and words that can't be easily guessed by watching the keyboard.
Note:
If you are installing the transmitter from a CD, you will find the Open
Firmware Password Application Installer in the CD.
