Todd Golebiewski
Level 1 (19 points)
Mac OS X

Q: Screen Sharing - Not prompting for password

I have iMac-A (administrator mac) that is accepting Screen Sharing connections from other iMac "workstation" computers without a password.

 

iMac-A is signed into iCloud with a unique AppleID / iCloud. (iMacAUser@icloud.com)

 

All of the other "workstation" iMacs on the network are signed into a common iCloud account (workstationaccount@icloud.com)

 

If I sign out of iCloud on one of the "workstation" macs, I am again prompted w/ a password when trying to screen share to iMac-A.

 

I realize at some point in the past, I must have selected "Save Password" when Screen Sharing to iMac-A while on one of the workstation machines, I just can't figure out how to delete the password.

 

  • I've looked at KeyChain Access and cannot find an entry for "iMac-A" on a workstation iMac and cannot locate any reference to it.

 

  • I've trashed the preferences in ~/Library/Preferences/ w/ anything w/ ScreenSharing in the file name.

 

  • I changed the local user password on "iMac-A" to a different password.

 

  • I changed the name of "iMac-A" to "iMac-B"

 

How can I completely remove any previous permission granting for Screen Sharing access to iMac-A to a group of computers that have the login credentials somehow saved in iCloud?

Posted on Mar 30, 2016 6:10 PM

by Todd Golebiewski,Solvedanswer
Todd Golebiewski Todd Golebiewski
Level 1 (19 points)
Mac OS X
A:

Well, completely trashing and resetting the Keychain corrected the issue.  Not sure where the network password was hiding in there, but I couldn't find it!

Posted on Mar 30, 2016 8:28 PM

Close
Todd Golebiewski

Q: Screen Sharing - Not prompting for password

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

  • by Linc Davis,

    Linc Davis Linc Davis Mar 30, 2016 6:25 PM in response to Todd Golebiewski
    Level 10 (207,925 points)
    Applications
    Mar 30, 2016 6:25 PM in response to Todd Golebiewski

    The password is stored in the iCloud keychain. In Keychain Access, look for an item of the kind "network password" with the name of the server.

  • by Todd Golebiewski,

    Todd Golebiewski Todd Golebiewski Mar 30, 2016 7:55 PM in response to Linc Davis
    Level 1 (19 points)
    Mac OS X
    Mar 30, 2016 7:55 PM in response to Linc Davis

    Thank you for taking the time to reply.  I am right there with you and this is what I originally thought as well.

     

    There does not appear to be any item related to "iMac-A" in Keychain Access.   I also changed the password of the mac whose screen is to be shared.  I also changed the name of the computer itself. This is when things began to confuse me

     

    It also doesn't prompt for a password when iCloud Keychain is disabled, but still logged into iCloud.  Only when signed out of iCloud am I prompted with a password request again.

  • by Todd Golebiewski,Solvedanswer

    Todd Golebiewski Todd Golebiewski Mar 30, 2016 8:28 PM in response to Todd Golebiewski
    Level 1 (19 points)
    Mac OS X
    Mar 30, 2016 8:28 PM in response to Todd Golebiewski

    Well, completely trashing and resetting the Keychain corrected the issue.  Not sure where the network password was hiding in there, but I couldn't find it!

  • by Todd Golebiewski,

    Todd Golebiewski Todd Golebiewski Apr 27, 2016 8:57 PM in response to Linc Davis
    Level 1 (19 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 27, 2016 8:57 PM in response to Linc Davis

    Hey Linc,  You've helped on this issue before, but I'm still getting stumped and was hoping you may be willing to lend your brain again.

     

    I'm having the same issue again across several workstation iMacs that are able to access my administration machine via Screen Sharing without a password prompt.  I regularly may be sitting at one of these workstations and screen share to my desktop to check email or whatnot, and I'm no longer prompted with a password, and I've been very careful on not selecting "Save this password in the keychain" when connecting.

     

    iCloud Keychain is disabled on the workstation iMacs.  I cannot find an entry in the Keychain of these machines that have anything to do with screen sharing, or the name of the admin iMac that they are able to connect to. 

     

    I know it has to be in the keychain somewhere, because when I wipe out the keychains on all of the workstation iMacs, the access is blocked, but I cannot figure out how the password is being saved again and pushed across to the other workstation iMacs.  iCloud Keychain is not active. 

     

    Oddly, I can change the password on the admin iMac, and the client iMacs can still connect.  It is very odd and I'm stumped.

     

    The admin iMac has Remote Management selected in Sharing Preference Panel, with Only my user being allowed access.  After changing the local admin mac password, when trying to connect w/ Remote Desktop, I have to re-enter the new password, but w/ Screen Sharing, the workstation computers can connect without a password prompt.

     

    Do you know of any hidden or other entry in the keychain that wouldn't contain the admin computer's name or the words screen sharing, as neither show up in the keychain list...

  • by Alf2001,

    Alf2001 Alf2001 Jul 25, 2016 1:34 PM in response to Todd Golebiewski
    Level 1 (12 points)
    Wireless
    Jul 25, 2016 1:34 PM in response to Todd Golebiewski

    I am having the same problem and am very concerned about security since no prompt for password.  I also can't find this password in keychain. 

    I saw an old post that recommended turning off screen sharing on both Macs and then restarting both Macs.  This worked when I turned screen sharing back on and was asked to provide a password to connect.  I DID NOT click remember this password. Well, a few days later I reconnected again and there was no password prompt with direct connection to the target Mac.  This is a security issue for me since one of Macs could be accessible to others when office is left open.

    I finally turned off screen sharing on the target Mac.  I can still access this Mac with Timbuktu which has been discontinued (but is still supported for a few more years.)