iMac Stolen, recovered, passwords changed

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iMac Stolen, recovered, passwords changed

My iMac 27 was stolen and then recovered. The thieves added a new admin account "User" that has no password. My accounts are visible, but the passwords I was using when they stole it are no longer valid. I thought I could simply use the new "User" admin account to access Users & Groups and reset my account passwords. But when I go to Users & Groups my old accounts are greyed out, I cannot select them.

How can I regain access to my original accounts?

iMac, Mac OS X (10.7.3)

Posted on Mar 31, 2012 8:36 AM

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Answer 1

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Shootist007

Level 6

16,703 points

Mar 31, 2012 8:55 AM in response to kavukavu

Try setting a password on the new "User" account and then you may be able to Unlock that panel to make changes.

But they may have also deleted all your data and only left the name and a few files in those acounts.

Good Luck.

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Answer 2

kavukavu Author

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Mar 31, 2012 9:27 AM in response to Shootist007

Thank you shootist, I am now looking at my files.

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Answer 3

Shootist007

Level 6

16,703 points

Mar 31, 2012 9:30 AM in response to kavukavu

Glad I could help. You are welcome

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Answer 4

HACKINT0SH

Level 5

5,810 points

Mar 31, 2012 4:23 PM in response to kavukavu

I'm just curious, did the thieves get caught? If not, I would be careful about messing with the accounts just yet, and try to see what other INFO I could get on THEM.

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Answer 5

kavukavu Author

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Apr 3, 2012 4:40 PM in response to HACKINT0SH

The thieves were caught. The Find My Mac app never fired, I suppose it was defeated when they created the new admin account? As soon as I restored my account the system showed up on iCloud.

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Answer 6

HACKINT0SH

Level 5

5,810 points

Apr 3, 2012 7:16 PM in response to kavukavu

They need to be on a KNOWN network.

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Answer 7

kavukavu Author

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Apr 4, 2012 5:24 AM in response to HACKINT0SH

Are you serious? The device has to connect to a previously known wifi network? That is such a serious limitation that it renders the feature useless for many situations and promotes a false sense of security. I know some folks enabled the feature on their Macs after mine was stolen, and I bet none of them are aware of that defect.

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Answer 8

Apr 4, 2012 5:32 AM in response to kavukavu

I don't think that's what he meant. The device has to have the Find My Mac enabled and the device needs to be turned on and connected (either wifi, ethernet, or radio mode for cellular) into a network in order for it to be located.

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Answer 9

HACKINT0SH

Level 5

5,810 points

Apr 4, 2012 12:02 PM in response to Glenn Leblanc

Unfortunately:

Find My Mac can only locate your Mac if it is connected to an internet via a known Wi-Fi network. If your Mac is connected to the internet only by an ethernet cable, Find My Mac will not be able to locate your Mac.

http://support.apple.com/kb/TS4006

It has been mentioned numerous times, that this feature only works against a very dumb theif.

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Answer 10

kavukavu Author

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Apr 4, 2012 3:15 PM in response to HACKINT0SH

Thanks for bringing that issue to my attention.

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