Elsie Tan HL

Q: My child bypasses the parental controls

My child bypasses the parental controls on his Macbook Air using the method shown in this video tutorial. Is there a way to prevent this? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Br6wKR28jFo

MacBook Air

Posted on Jan 11, 2016 12:38 AM

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Q: My child bypasses the parental controls

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  • by K Shaffer,

    K Shaffer K Shaffer Jan 11, 2016 1:33 AM in response to Elsie Tan HL
    Level 6 (14,340 points)
    Desktops
    Jan 11, 2016 1:33 AM in response to Elsie Tan HL

    With the text section of the video page, the pathway used by the author to exploit the Single User Mode

    in Command-line is spelled out; and this has been done before. Not sure if there are any newer methods

    of trying to deter the child from setting up their own Admin account to bypass the parental controls than

    those already discussed in adjoining older threads, such as this one:

     

    How do I stop someone setting up a duplicate administrative account (hackmac)?

     

    While it is possible to learn how and use the Open Firmware Password, to try to secure the Admin acct

    this too could be overcome by a determined person seeking to exploit a workaround by physical access.

    In the past, some computer models were easier to open and perform tasks that could derail this method.

    Almost any iFixit or take-apart guide could be helpful to a determined child or student, as a work around.

     

    See the suggestions on how to implement the Firmware Password, and also the means to attempt to

    block access to the hardware or means of resetting the admin password via OS X Recovery, in newer

    versions of OS X that use this partition and its utilities. This is part of the problem in keeping the Admin

    user from being exploited, is physical access to the computer. And why remote hacking is very difficult.

     

    • Use a firmware password on your Mac - Apple Support

     

    While I have no other suggestions (knowing there could be a fairly simple method to get around them

    and most have been published online for several years) I hope that someone will see & reply to your

    question with some method you can implement. Or see if an Apple Store with Genius bar can help in

    this matter, since it does create issues. I'd be sure to set an appointment to discuss this at the Store.

     

    If no official Apple retail Store is available, you may have to consider a call to Apple Support or use an

    online chat. Be sure to mention details on the computer build model year, etc & the OS X version in it.

     

     

    You may choose to comment directly to Apple Feedback on this matter, if you find there is no effective

    method of keeping determined children or young adults from changing a computer Admin to their own.

    One of the feedback links below is probably more suited to this matter than the other:

     

    Support Feedback

    Product Feedback

     

    Contact Apple Support

    http://www.apple.com/contact/

     

    Need service or support? Start your request online and we’ll find you a solution.

    More Ways to Get Help:

     

    Since there were no replies when I first noticed your thread, I asked hosts to relocate it to more suitable

    location for better visibility in these Support discussions; so they chose to put it in MacBook/Air section.

     

    Good luck in this matter!

  • by carl wolf,

    carl wolf carl wolf Jan 11, 2016 3:05 AM in response to Elsie Tan HL
    Level 6 (14,625 points)
    Jan 11, 2016 3:05 AM in response to Elsie Tan HL

    There's another way to prevent it, and it's much more effective.  You can act as a responsible parent, and explain to your child that it is inappropriate for him/her to do as it has and, if it happens again, (s)he will will lose the privilege of using the computer.  Now, you're simply playing a game with your child and it only teaches him/her to not obey your wishes.