To protect your computer, be it Windows, Linux or Mac, the standard method is to put a password to access the user account. However, this protection is good for protecting your PC when left unattended at home or in the office, but it is of no use in case of computer theft or spying.
In fact, we have seen how easy it is to find the login password in Windows or reset the user password using other operating systems or using tools that can be started via live CD to access the files.
A stronger solution to protect the computer is therefore the password on the BIOS which prevents those who do not know it from turning on the computer making it impossible to start programs or operating systems .
Let's say right away that this precaution should not be used by most people even though it is important to know what it means.
There are much more effective ways to protect important files using encryption of the hard drive or part of it (see the end of the post).
Password on the BIOS or UEFI can be useful for a public or used computer in the workplace .
They allow you to limit access to unauthorized people and prevent them from starting them with alternative operating systems or from installing another operating system on that computer.
To find out what the BIOS is and what it is used for, refer to another article.
We also wrote How to access UEFI on new PCs and difference with the BIOS and how to access Bios on all computers.
In summary we say that the BIOS is mainly used to change the boot order and, therefore, to choose how to boot a computer.
Changing this setting makes it very easy to start a PC using a live operating system that can be put on a USB stick or on a CD or DVD disc.
By entering a computer with another operating system you can browse the disk files freely (unless they are encrypted).
A password on the BIOS or UEFI firmware provides protection against these access modes.
To put a password on the BISO in older computers, those with a bad BIOS, it is necessary to restart the computer and press the access key to the bios which can be different depending on the model: F2, Del, ESC, F1 or F10.
In the BIOS settings screen, locate the password option and enter one.
Depending on the computer, it may be possible to set different passwords, to boot the PC and to access the BIOS itself.
This protection option is the ideal solution, because it does not create the hassle of having to enter the password every time, while still protecting the computer from different boot attempts than those of the main operating system.
You can then visit the Boot section to check that the boot order is blocked.
On newer computers with Windows 8, instead of the BIOS there is UEFI, more beautiful to look at and easier to use.
There will also be a section there to set the password.
On Mac computers, restart the Mac, hold down Command + R to boot the system into recovery mode and click Utilities> Firmware Password to set a UEFI firmware password.
Of course, all of this can be overcome without being a computer genius.
If the computer is stolen or otherwise comes into possession of another person, he or she can open it, remove the hard drive for use on another computer.
On a desktop PC, then, the BIOS password is easy to reset and we have explained in another article how to reset the BIOS by clearing the CMOS memory and removing the buffer battery .
In fact, the password is stored on a memory powered by this small flat battery.
The BIOS password is still an effective protection on laptops, because they are much more difficult, or almost impossible, to open.
To find the BIOS password, you can also use professional services by contacting, for example, an Apple Store to reset the firmware of a MacBook.
In conclusion, BIOS or UEFI passwords should not be used except in special situations.
To protect important data on a computer there are total disk encryption programs such as Truecrypt or other programs to protect files and folders on the computer with passwords
