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physical access
Authored by: hayne on Nov 01, '04 12:46:20PM

if someone has physical access to your machine, they can restart it with the Install CD or via "single-user" mode and thus obtain 'root' privileges without the need for any password. Thus the admonition to physically secure your machine. For machines that are publicly accessible, it is essential to set the "open firmware" password to prevent the above.

If you leave your Mac running without activating the screensaver, anyone can access your files and (for example) install hidden malware using the privileges of your user account. This is often the first step towards obtaining your password and full control of the machine.



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