RE: Laptop Password.

["Huynh The Vinh" <vinhht () gmail com>]

Hi all,

And how about Toshiba laptop? I'm using a Tecra M2 PentiumM 1.5 that
purchased in Germany and can not change the BIOS setting. When enter the
BIOS setup, I can just browse the first of 2 pages in BIOS. When I try to
recover password by re-write a new BIOS version from a boot CD, an error
message as follow" you are not authorized for this task, pls get supervisor
level in order to write BIOS". How to resolve?
Any help?

Thanks in advance

VinhHT


-----Original Message-----
From: Ben Nell [mailto:enemy.cow () gmail com] 
Sent: None
To: pen-test () securityfocus com
Subject: Fwd: Laptop Password.

> Part of a small audit i did in the company some laptops are found to 
> have a password(either PoP or just to change values in the BIOS).On a 
> desktop most of the time all you need is to take out the battery to 
> get rid of it, but for laptops (DELL in this case) i know that it is 
> in (if memory serve correct) an EPROM.In case of theft i know that the 
> PoP will protect form a casual thief but i know first hand that DELL 
> has a backdoor system , they send the serial number to the mother 
> company (always wanted to say that) they check if it stolen and if not 
> they send a password to be entered.
> Now is there a possibility that someone has created a generator for 
> these password?Is it known ? I mean security throughout obscurity (if 
> you can call it like this in this case) is obviously something that i 
> wouldn't trust.
>
> Any comment /Ideas?

Well I don't know about a backdoor password (I doubt that it exists) but I
can tell you that if you take the CMOS battery off of the unit and remove
the unit's battery, the CMOS information (including PoP) will eventually
dissipate.  You may have to go days or longer without providing power to the
unit, but this is a sure fire way to reset the password.

BN

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