Does anyone can erase my MacBook?

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Level 1

8 points

Does anyone can erase my MacBook?

Hello, dear friend. I've just reinstalled my macOS via Recovery mode and has one question about my MacBook protection. Could any person did it to my Mac? I mean, I do not have a password on recovery mode and nobody asks you do set it up by default, but there is an Internet Recovery also, without any password, so...

I mean, if someone will take my Mac with my Apple ID, with Find My Mac, FileVault turned on and etc and did this:

1. The person will shut down Mac

2. The person will enter internet recovery (Shift-Option-Command-R) or just in my recovery (Command-R).

3. Person will fully erase my disk ("Macintosh HD") with Disk Utility

4. Person will reinstall MacOS using recovery

5. Person will run MacOS after with it's own Apple ID.

Can anyone do that?

MacBook Pro 15”, macOS 10.14

Posted on May 10, 2019 1:16 PM

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Answer 1

Best reply

HWTech

Level 9

56,900 points

May 10, 2019 5:12 PM in response to Kappy

@Kappy, I believe the OP wasn't asking about the security of his data, but whether someone could re-purpose the laptop. Your answer in this regard is a little vague in the explanation.

With FileVault turned on, the user data is safe as Kappy mentioned, but someone can wipe out the drive and set it up to use it as their own. Enabling an EFI Firmware password is the only way to keep someone from erasing the drive and reinstalling macOS. If an EFI Firmware password is enabled and you try to boot the system in any manner other than a default boot to the internal drive you will be presented with the EFI Firmware password prompt. This covers an Option Boot, Recovery Mode, Single User Mode, etc.

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Answer 2

Kappy

Level 10

361,765 points

May 10, 2019 1:47 PM in response to FLVSH

Only if they know the password to open the drive. Otherwise, what you propose is not possible if the drive is encrypted. To guarantee no access you can also install a Firmware Password without which you cannot turn on the computer. How to set a firmware password on your Mac.

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Answer 3

FLVSH Author

Level 1

8 points

May 10, 2019 5:29 PM in response to HWTech

Yes, indeed.

Also, If Find my Mac is turned on – you can always Lock your Mac even if someone will wipe it and will use with their own Apple ID. They will never have an option yo use Find my Mac unless you disabled it on your Apple ID.

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Does anyone can erase my MacBook?

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