I want to put a BIOS password on my computer to protecet it from "prying eyes". I have some very sensitive information that others would like to access, but if I put this password on that disallows entry onto the computer form start-up, will this stop them, or can it be bypassed using a special program?
2006-08-01 03:42:26 · 10 answers · asked by Anonymous in Computers & Internet ➔ Security
No special program required. You just need to remove the BIOS battery for a short time and that will clear the BIOS password. I suggest you use password protection throughout your system if files are sensitive. Here's a link to free encryption software to give you hand. Good luck!
2006-08-01 03:44:42 · answer #1 · answered by Rowdy answers 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
While it can not be be bypassed with a program (your PC will not boot far enough to run a program), a BIOS password can be removed from the computer by opening the case and removing the BIOS battery. With many models it has to sit for 24 hours before the password will clear, while with others it only take 5-10 minutes. Some computers have a switch or jumper on the system board that will clear the BIOS password.
Also, if someone where to physically remove the hard drive from your computer and put it into another computer, they could access the information.
If security is critical, you need to get an encrypting program that requires a password to access the data on the drive, and than makes the drive unreadable if moved to another PC.
2006-08-01 10:51:42 · answer #2 · answered by dewcoons 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The BIOS password can be bypassed by opening the computer and changing the jumper position on the BIOS password pin (found on the motherboard). Or by removing the CMOS battery for a few minutes. These "prying eyes" would need to get inside your computer to do it though (unless they are hackers in which they probably have some more nefarious ways of bypassing it).
2006-08-01 11:10:33 · answer #3 · answered by Guvo 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not easily.. for normal ppl.
you can keep bios password.
The ones who want to compromise would need to open your computer box and remove the cmos battery (the lithium ion battery)
and put it back . that would reset bios password and all other bios settings to the default.
ya, if it is a laptop , if you loose it , then the removing of cmos battery (it is just one screw in most cases )and putting it back would eventually give access to computer.
There was a microsoft Private folders that was good , but MS pulled it down, as it had no backdoor except for the password.
and it would be a headache for parents / it admins..
here is a link form other download site..
http://www.softpedia.com/get/Security/Lockdown/Microsoft-Private-Folder.shtml
PS : With this , if you loose password , you loose your data, it does not have a alternate recovery method.
2006-08-01 10:57:12 · answer #4 · answered by StupendousMan 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can remove the CMOS battery which will clear the BIOS password, so put a lock on the case to prevent physical internal access to the computer.
2006-08-01 10:46:23 · answer #5 · answered by EG345 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
any password can be found out it just takes time. why do you want to password the bios? the bios is just the basic in and out protocol for the PC. why don't you use the password options built into the operating system? how about setting permissions for files? or encryption? or if you want to go old school you can get a PC power lock which locks the power off.
2006-08-01 10:51:57 · answer #6 · answered by satguy8 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, It can be bypassed, whenever there is physical access to a computer, you can never assure your information is safe, someone can take out the hard disk and plug it into another computer, you'd better use long passwords in documents.
2006-08-01 10:45:15 · answer #7 · answered by ɹɐzɔ 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes. all they ahve to do is open up the case, remove the small round battery off the board, wait 30 seconds and reinstall it.
it clears the bios, usually..
If THAT doesn't do it, there is a jumper on almost every board that clears the bios. Switch jumper legs, turn on computer, switch back. Clears it back to default.
2006-08-01 10:47:32 · answer #8 · answered by zeropointe01 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes! it can! especially the bios one - use a security program better that the standart bios password (because it;s at hand for all users, it;s the most common used so the first in the list for cracking know-how! think mate!
2006-08-01 11:02:04 · answer #9 · answered by ? 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes, there is software available on special interest websites that can bypass certain types of BIOS passwords.
Check this website for extensive resources:
http://www.astalavista.com/index.php?section=directory&cmd=detail&id=6328
2006-08-01 10:48:30 · answer #10 · answered by neal77802 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋