Aiding and Abetting/Accessory Passwords

I think if the thief is savvy enough to post a question here they're smart enough to find the answer elsewhere. I feel that not answering the password questions is a minor roadblock to criminals and insulting to legitimate users.

Just to chime in my 2 cents' worth:

I'm a cynic by nature, so every time I see a question of how to get around the iPod password or OS X password, my first thought is "probably stolen!" Therefore, I don't participate in such questions.

I see many on this site that are much more optimistic than I am. They see those questions and seem to think, "Oh, a person in need! I am happy to help him/her in his/her plight!" and divulge the info.

At the same time that I feel we have a responsibility to be wise, I don't feel it is within my right to remove information because of its potential, just like I don't think a store has the right to ban Robitussin because some people might abuse it for recreational purposes. Following this analogy to its conclusion, the store's responsible action is to put the Robitussin behind the counter and require an ID to purchase. That way, a deterrent or disclaimer is made for those with ill intent, and the product is still available for those who don't abuse it.

So here's my suggestion: we should have a page somewhere on iFixit that has a well-worded disclaimer for/warning against abusing the information, along with a description of the procedure. Any questions about the topic would then be answered by linking to that page.

The result would be access for those who really need it, and legal coverage/awareness for those who might try to abuse the information. This seems to me to be the best between the worlds of responsible and informative.

1. Consider the context.
2. There's no need to answer if you don't feel comfortable, but don't prevent others from answering.
3. However, by all means, if you feel comfortable answering, treat it as you would any other question.
4. Avoid duplicating information. Instead, link to the canonical password reset question for that device.
5. With great power comes great responsibility.

• How do I reset the Open Firmware password on my Mac?
• How do I reset the lock code on my iPod?
• How do I reset the lock code on my iPhone or iPod Touch?

Resetting a password is a standard service procedure that is documented by the manufacturer and should also be documented on iFixit. Of course, it makes complete sense to be wary about specifically telling someone who is acting suspicious.

This discussion has a lot of similarities to Stack Overflow's community policy on asking homework questions. Context and honesty matters, and has a case-by-case impact on whether a question should be answered.

I think it's an ethical issue. Myself I would prefer that we don't give information about the procedures to access private data. But It's up to the web site owner(s) to take the final decision about this question.

True, I can see that people who may be using information from this site for illegal means could result in the person providing the information to face consequences. However this site isn't the only place one can find information on how to break into a mac. About 5 minutes ago, i googled "How to break into a mac" and am starting to doubt the security of my macs, because any attempt to password protect a mac can be broken with about 2 commands. Either way, i think that even if iFixit were to take action against issues such as this, I do not believe that it will impead the progress of someone who is stealing macs, and breaking into them.

This is a touchy issue. I can understand both parts of the arguement. Personally I say it's up to the staff here at ifixit to make the decision. Apple facilitated my EX-girlfriend by showing her how to override my password and get access to my MacBook while I was In school and my MacBook ended up being destroyed because of it. I called Apple and asked why they would tell someone how to override my password without my authority and their answer was that as long as whoever is calling with this type of inquiry has the serial number to the device in question that they disclose any information pertinent to the inquiry. So, in other words people can just call Apple or visit an Apple forum and find out how to override or delete a password. so, if we don't do it here then people will just find out somewhere else to get the information. Luckily my logic board remained intact but the rest of my machine was destroyed, Although Apple facilitated this by showing an unauthorized user how to gain access to my machine they refused to cooperate in any way to get my machine fixed, I had to come out of my pocket and replace &@&% near the whole machine. On the other hand, I know that there are plenty of people out there that for whatever reason forget their passwords and need this help. Banning this info. from this site is futile. It serves no purpose. Everyone here has the option of answering or not answering these types of questions, answer at your own discretion.

To be devils advocate:

First might I interject that apple makes its os based off of the free bsd engine (a unix based system for the layman) and unix sys admins have known how to reset the root password for 20+years. Someone doesn't need to call apple or a repair facility to do this, just have direct access to the computer. Apple just give their customers a pretty GUI (the wonderful graphics that you can click on) to do this with. A repair facility or company giving this information allows them to legally stay out of property disputes and other legal errata. Not to mention save themselves a ton of legal fees. You can pick up a unix sysadmin book from any major bookstore and find this info. It actually protects the company to provide this information regardless of the caller/customer. if you want this information for yourself go to any bookstore in america or look it up online (a point made by a previous poster).

I look at it that if a person is asking for help and they are registered to ifixit site they should get the answer they need. I have been working on Mac's since the early 1990's and that includes as an Apple trained and Certified tech and Apple has never put a restriction on me telling ANYONE how to use the software that Apple Provides. It is on the Apple Software, that is in plain sight, how to clear and reset Macintosh passwords and iPod lock codes.

If there is a question and I know the answer I do not feel I should second guess their intentions. I choose to think most people are good and do not want to hinder their use of the machine in their possession. I hope ifixit agrees. If not they should shut down the site as it would hinder the people they are trying to serve.

And when iFixit made up their rules of how this site is managed I did not see censorship in the commentary. Apple provides the means for anyone to find the info at no charge. They provide the means to re-asign passwords by the use of any OS X install disk and going down the Utility menu to Reset Password. That is GIVEN BY APPLE to each of the people who buy their computers. And that software is required to be transferred to the new owner when the computer is sold. Has anyone you know ever sold a Macintosh to a client and NOT GIVEN THEM THE REQUIRED SOFTWARE LISTED BY APPLES LICENSE? So lets say they did not get the software when they got their computer and need to reset the computer. We let them know what they need and they can go to the source of the computer and request the software that was required to be given to them when purchased and they can use their computer. Also Apple provides the manual for the iPods that lists that you need to hook up your iPod to the computer it was restored with to clear the lock code and choose Restore to clear the device should you not have your computer or it had to be reloaded since last time you uploaded your iPod. If you call Apple they will freely give you this info. (might charge you for the call) But it is all available online by Apple without restriction. All we are doing here is giving iFixit clients a place to ask questions and get answers without having to search through a ton of data that is sometimes hard to find.

As far as Federal legal opinion, all info concerning the reseting of computer passwords or iPod are listed by the manufacturer free of cost online. But I am sure an important Federal District Judge will have the same opinion if they are give all the facts. ( That legal thing about being innocent until found guilty by jury )

Do not take this that I am just being argumentative but I feel the internet is an Open Forum and feel restricting access to info because someone doesn't know if someone is a thief is wrong.

here's another suggestion (a semi-serious one)

if someone has forgotten their iPod screen lock code, why not just send them this "Let Me Google That For You" link:

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=forgot+my+iPod+scre...

then they're doing the research themselves :)

joking aside, as has been already pointed out by several people, this information is readily available - they don't have to find it on this site, and in fact they'll probably find more detailed descriptions elsewhere. Even Apple provides the info (and even the software to do so). of course the context under which Apple answers this question is not "what do you do when you've stolen an iPod", but rather they answer the question of what to do if you can't unlock your iPod...

to me the significance of this particular issue seems lower than the amount of discussion here would seem to indicate - there are far more significant ways to aid a criminal. As well, what's to say that giving someone info on how to clone a hard drive, or replace a hard drive, or replace the case of a laptop or iPod (where the serial number is visible), ... etc etc -- isn't possibly helping somebody who has stolen something?? we can't possibly know here. so do we ban those repair topics too?

that said, I'm not against putting the answer "behind the counter" as Ben suggested, that at least clarifies ifixit's intention that we're all here to help people with their own devices

What I think should be the policy, as people have expressed here, is personal preference, if you think a question sounds fishy, don't answer it, no one is forcing you too, no one says you must answer questions asking for passwords, if you aren't clear on whether you should or should not, don't, and someone who is decided they will/want to answer it will answer the question.

I personally don't feel bad in the slightest giving someone the easily obtained information on how to get around a mac password (and I usually give 2 or 3 out of 300 ways).

I'm sure we also all remember the "while on vacation in Nigeria..." question.