Should I lock or erase a stolen Mac?

Lock Your Mac: Lets you remotely lock the Mac with a password and display a message with your contact details. You should really use Lock Your Mac; Erase Your Mac is only really useful if you have unsecured private data you want to delete. It's better just to set up FileVault before your Mac goes missing.

Likewise, people ask, should I lock my Mac if stolen?

Lock is a good option if you think you might be able to get your Mac back but don't want to take any chances with the data. If you opt to remotely lock your MacBook (or any of the other devices) it will shut down and set a four-digit passcode of your choosing. It won't then reboot without the correct passcode.

Subsequently, question is, can a stolen Mac be used? If you set up Find My Mac before your Mac was lost or stolen, you can use it to locate your Mac on a map, or play a sound to help you find it. You can also use it to remotely lock or erase your Mac. To use Find My, sign in to iCloud.com on another computer or open the Find My app for iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch.

Similarly, you may ask, can a locked Mac be erased?

Tip: A locked Mac cannot be remotely erased, so only lock your Mac if you're confident you can recover it. The lock command will go through the next time the Mac goes online. The Mac will restart on its own, and the new lock screen will appear.

How do I wipe a stolen MacBook?

Click Erase This Device. Click Erase This [device], then do one of the following: For a Mac: For a Mac, you must create a numeric passcode, even if you already have a password set up on your Mac. This passcode is distinct from your password and is only used when you mark your device as lost or want to erase it.

30 Related Question Answers Found

What happens if I buy a stolen MacBook?

If you buy what you know or come to know is a stolen Macbook Pro then that item is still the property of the owner and should be returned to that person. If you buy what you know or come to know is a stolen Macbook Pro then that item is still the property of the owner and should be returned to that person.

Can you track a Mac by serial number?

Click the name of the Mac under “Devices” on the page that appears and you'll see the Mac's serial number. If you enabled Find My Mac on the Mac and it's been stolen or misplaced, you can track or lock it using the Find My Mac feature in iCloud. If you still have the box your Mac originally came in, look on the box.

What happens when you lock a Mac?

Lock Your Mac: Lets you remotely lock the Mac with a password and display a message with your contact details. The lock lasts even if the thieves try to wipe your Mac, so they won't be able to reinstall macOS or even install Windows on it.

Can you track a MacBook if it's turned off?

So if it's switched off, or not connected to a wifi or cellular network, Find My Mac won't be able to locate it. However, all is not lost. If Find My Mac can't locate your MacBook, it will offer you the option to play a sound, lock or erase it when it's next back online.

How do I prevent someone from accessing my Mac remotely?

Disabling Remote Access for macOS

Click the Apple menu in the top-right corner of your MacBook's screen and select System Preferences.
Click the Sharing pane under the Network & Internet heading.
Uncheck the boxes next to Remote Login and Remote Management.
Close your System Preferences.

What do thieves do with stolen laptops?

Why Criminals Steal Laptops

A good laptop can be worth up to 5,000 dollars. A criminal can sell a stolen laptop to an unsuspecting used computer store or pawnshop and easily receive up to half its value in cash. Not too bad when you compare that to the amount of cash a thief would get by targeting your wallet.

How do I secure my MacBook Pro from theft?

I listed all those steps here and I encourage you to follow these free tips to secure your Mac.

Set Up An Open Guest Account.
Custom Lock Screen Message.
Install a Mac Tracking Software.
Setup a Firmware Password for Mac.
Grant Location Access.
Be Careful with FileVault.
Conclusion.

Can Apple brick a stolen iPhone?

Which means your iPhone is still your iPhone. No matter where it is. (Emphasis mine) If you remotely wiped a stolen device (to avoid loss of private data), the phone would prompt a thief to enter your Apple ID and password before it would reactivate. If they don't know them, then the device is effectively bricked.

How do you bypass a locked Mac?

All a person needs to do is switch off the computer, press the keys P + R + Option + Command and hear three welcoming sounds. This disables the Find My Mac feature completely. Therefore, the hackers can easily access and reset MacBook data and unattach it from Apple ID account.

How do you unlock a Mac?

Before you get locked out: Set up Apple ID unlock on your Mac

Click on the Apple menu icon in the upper left corner of your Mac.
Click on System Preferences from the drop down menu.
Click on Users & Groups.
Click the lock in the bottom left corner of the window to unlock the settings.
Enter your Mac account password.

How do you wipe a locked MacBook Pro?

How to Reset a MacBook Pro to Factory Settings Without a Disc

Set the MacBook Pro to restart. Hold down the “Command” and “R” keys when the gray screen appears during the boot process.
Select “Disk Utility” from the next screen and click “Continue.” Choose your hard drive in the list and click “Erase.”
Click the “Mac OS Extended (Journaled)” option in the new dialog.

Can stolen laptop be traced?

Yes you can Track a stolen laptop, but I do not recommend Software trackers. Once a laptop is formatted, an and all data previously on the drive are wiped. This means the laptop cannot send you location data. They will only work when the laptop is on and has an active internet connection on a non formatted computer.

How can I find a Mac that is offline?

On MacOS Catalina 10.15:

Next, select "iCloud" from the sidebar, then make sure "Find My Mac" is toggled on under the list of apps. If you need to turn it on, check it, then hit "Allow" when prompted. With Find My Mac activated, tap "Options" next to it, then make sure "Enable Offline Finding" is turned on.

Can you wipe a stolen iPhone?

If your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Mac, or Apple Watch is lost or stolen, you can erase it using Find My iPhone if you set up Find My iPhone on the device before it was lost. If Find My iPhone isn't set up on your missing device, see the Apple Support article If your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch is lost or stolen.

How can I check if a MacBook is stolen?

Unfortunately, Apple doesn't keep a list of lost and stolen MacBooks as some people may tell you, but you can use the serial number to check eligibility for AppleCare and to check with your local police. Ask for a Serial Number – This is one of the easiest ways to find out if you are dealing with a rotten Apple.

Can an IMAC be iCloud locked?

Apple's iCloud lock for Macs is not very secure. One feature in Apple's iCloud service for OS X is its lock option, which allows you to remotely set a PIN for your Mac through iCloud's Find My iPhone service, and require that it be entered to boot the system.

Can the police track a stolen iPhone?

Yes, the police can track a stolen phone using either your phone number or the phone's IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity). You should simply report this to the police and your service provider. Without a GPS turned on, there is not much you can do.