Bios level Password M11x R3

This question is for owners of the M11X R3. Anyone else noticed that you cannot set a bios level password to prevent unauthorized booting into windows? The windows password is USELESS and can be bypassed in minutes. You can set a supervisor password and a user password but they only prevent access to the bios and both allow windows to start right up. Am I missing something?

no one else have this problem? I'm hoping this is something that can be addressed in a bios update

 

Consumer laptop, they probably don't think it is a big issue.

 

I did not know the windows password could be bypassed that easily. But I do not think a BIOS password would be 100% safe. You can always put the drive in another computer.. if it is not encrypted that is. I don't see a point in using a BIOS password then..

 

I suppose it depends on what you are trying to prevent. But I agree if you want to protect your data encryption is the way to go.

 

yes encryption is best for protecting the hard drive but if you just want to prevent unauthorized access to your computer a bios password is great I already encrypt any sensitive data using truecrypt. The main point here is that a supervisor password is normally to prevent booting or entering the bios without the password and it is not working at all for booting just for entering the bios.

Oh and a windows password can be circumvented with a small program booted from a thumbstick in less than a minute. and the worst part is that you would never know it was done as it does not change or erase the password. For instance a key logger can than be installed and the data sent remotely or collected through the same bypass at a later date.


So, its the same situation for everyone then? no password protected bios
boot?

 

i can crack a bios in a matter of minutes. all you need to know is how to re-flash the bios, and have the proper hardware and software to do it.

 

You just need to remove the motherboard battery to reset the bios password.

 

the CMOS battery? no. its in the memory, removing the battery isnt going to clear the memory, it will just reset the local bios settings, not reset the password.

 

Oh it worked on older computer, I thought it still working.

 

well the bios password is MUCH harder to crack but crackable. And as you mentioned there is hardware required as well as software. Windows password just needs a thumb Stick, CD or DVD lol.

So anyone else try to actually use the bios password option and see if its working properly for you?

 

Don't newer computers, even notebooks, still come with the jumper switch to reset the bios password?
And I thought you needed third party software to have a pre-boot password, such as Symantec Endpoint Encryption.

 

i didnt see a jumper anywhere when i had my m11x's motherboard out.

 

most new ones do not have the jumpers. From the pictures I have seen the m11x definitely does not unless they made some big changes to the R3.

 

User password is supposed to do what you want according to the manual, but I can confirm it does not ask for the password on boot when the user password is set.

 

Thanks so much for testing! I hope they fix this in a bios update. I am loving this little machine and bios passwords and virtual machines are my only issues so far but not enough for me to return it.