The security of Macs and, in general, of all Apple devices, is a priority in the company’s values. From special features like iPhone anti-theft mode to encrypting all data on a Mac, if you are an Apple user, you can make things very difficult for thieves.
In this case, the story has another origin. A company Terminate an employee during their first month of employment then you have to contact him again to ask him for the password for his MacBook that he left behind at the company when he was fired.
A layoff, a locked Mac and an email six months later
Like any good story, let’s start at the beginning. This all comes from a forum on Reddit started by the employee who was fired. This worker, nicknamed “spicyad”, he spent less than a month at his job
So far something not very normal but, unfortunately, it does not seem so strange to us. Six months after dismissal, Spicerad receives an email from the company on his iPhone. The reason: They needed to know your Mac password
I am writing to discuss a logistical issue related to the company laptop you returned upon departure. We are currently unable to do a factory format and prepare the computer for the next user because it still has a password on the home screen. We kindly ask you to help us provide the necessary in formation to reset the laptop to its original settings, which involves sharing your password with us. You can rest assured that any information you provide to us will be treated confidentially and will only be used to reset your laptop.
It is from now on that The worker himself has doubts about what to do and asks for help or advice on Reddit. Today, this forum has almost four thousand comments with opinions of all kinds.
Reddit forum screenshot
Can’t you really erase a Mac without knowing the password?
For many years now, all Apple computers have had a specific security chip. Either the T2 chip for Intel processors or a standalone chip within the M chip itself on computers equipped with Apple processors. This security chip is responsible for encrypting the data on the hard drive and, effectively, preventing its deletion if the user has configured said encryption.
The company should have introduced its employees’ Macs into the system from the start.n MDM o Apple Business Manager. It is management software to prevent this kind of thing or automatically distribute applications to users. From what it looks like they didn’t use this signup method, so if spicead doesn’t give out your password the company will have a completely unusable Mac
The company would only have one option if the user refuses, and that is to talk to Apple
Few people know that if a corporate computer was purchased in the name of the company and The invoice is available, Apple could study the case and unlock the Mac lock. This is done via a special USB key that Apple technical service has and which would allow you to reset the password and completely erase the computer.
It has to be a very clear case and Apple may request all kinds of information to perform this unlocking, but there have been cases where this has been done. And that, whether the dismissal was done well or badly, could be part of it.
What would you do? In this situation, would you give the password? Of course, what the company should do is have an IT department that is better able to prevent these situations.
Cover image | Unsplash
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