Step 2 – Create A Locked Screen Saver Encryption is pointless if the Forensic Team get to your computer while its running. They can use live forensic tools that don’t require the movement or shutdown of a computer. A very simple technique to overcome this is to create a locked screen saver. Getting locked out of your Mac is annoying. But don't get too frustrated. Whether you're dusting off an old MacBook to give your kids for online classes or you just set up a new work laptop to.

• Mac Computer Locked Up Because Of Hacking Software
• Mac Computer Locked Up Because Of Hacking Iphone

Removing or Hiding traces is most important thing that every hacker should know otherwise you will be busted in less than 5 minutes. In our previous article we have learned about how to remove traces over Network. Today we will learn how to make your computer almost untraceable, so that you cannot be tracked or monitored by anyone basically learn how hacker’s remove traces from their computer. This will not only help you in hiding your identity during hacking attempts but also make you anonymous over the network. Hiding or removing traces sometimes also referred as Anti-forensics.

If you were the hacking target, then you need to change passwords on all your accounts. Obviously, this doesn’t include random forums and websites where you’ve signed up for newsletters. But you need to reset your passwords for any account where you have entered financial data, or store personal data of any kind. Use a Password Manager. Jul 03, 2017  That’s it. Once you press that key combo, their desktop will get flipped to the high contrast mode—you can press it again to go back to normal. The great thing is that even if their computer is locked, you can enable high contrast with the icon on the lower left corner. On Mac OS X, you can press Ctrl+Opt+Cmd+8 to invert the screen’s colors.

Let’s get started… How to make your computer untraceable i.e. Leaving no traces behind any hack attempt. Hackingloops presents you complete Anti-Forensics hacker’s step by step guide to hide traces or logs.

How to remove traces : Anti-Forensics Guide for Hacker’s :

1. Encrypt Your Keystrokes

You need to protect yourself from keyloggers/Rats. As strange as it may sound even the government/ security agencies/ windows/Hackers all has keyloggers, which records the users IP address, Mac address, open ports, operating system, installed applications, default web browser, visited URLs, logged in user, etc…

In order to protect yourself from keyloggers, you should encrypt your keystrokes. You can do this using a software called ‘Keyscrambler’.

2. Making Encryption Secure

Encryption is pointless if it can be easily bypassed or overcome. You need to make sure that the encryption is secure too.

Step 1 – Make Sure Your Password Is Strong
Even with your computer encrypted, it is still vulnerable. Make sure your password is good (for optimal security, your password should be twenty or more characters, with symbols, numbers, and random capitals, and a special symbol (like ALT+1456) really increase security). Norton password generator is great for this.

Step 2 – Create A Locked Screen Saver
Encryption is pointless if the Forensic Team get to your computer while its running. They can use live forensic tools that don’t require the movement or shutdown of a computer.
A very simple technique to overcome this is to create a locked screen saver. To create a locked screen saver in Windows Vista or Windows 7; Right click your desktop and click on ‘Personalize’. In the bottom left or right hand corner you should see ‘Screen Saver’, click that. Now, check ‘On Resume, Display Logon Screen’, and set ‘Wait’ to 5. Now, underneath that you may set what you want your screen saver to be.

Now you must go to your Control Panel. Click on System and Security now click on ‘Power Options’ find your selected plan and click ‘Change plan settings.’ Now, set ‘Turn Off Display’ to 5 minutes. That’s it! You have now created a locked screen saver.

Step 3 – Get Some Good Antivirus
This may seem obvious, but all this is pointless if you get infected with a keylogger that takes screen shots. Having a good anti-virus is one of the most important things you can do. Now, listen up. AVG, Avast, McCafe, Norton? They all SUCK. The only Anti-Virus you should even consider are BitDefender, ESET, Nod32 and Kaspersky is also pretty good. Advance System Care Ultimate is Good To it uses BitDefender Anti virus engine but is also a utility tool i.e Registry fix/defrag disk defrag privacy sweep security fix etc.

Mac Computer Locked Up Because Of Hacking Software

You rarely even need anti-virus software when using Linux, as most viruses are built to infect Windows systems, given these make up the majority of computers, but it’s best to be safe.

3. Disabling Windows Hibernation

You may as well hand your computer over to the feds if they raid your house and your computer is in hibernation. Also, putting your computer into hibernation is pretty much just taking a screen shot of your RAM that gets saved to your hard drive. So how to remove traces by disabling hibernation?

To disable hibernation in Windows Vista/7/10:
a. Open your Control Panel.

b. Click System and Security, then click ‘Power Options’.

c. Click ‘Change plan settings’ for you current power plan.

d. Now click ‘Change advanced power settings’. Expand ‘Sleep’, then expand ‘Hibernate After’. Enter “0″ for ‘Setting:’ to set hibernate to ‘Never’. Hibernation is now disabled.

4. Disable and Remove USB Logs

Next on the list of Anti-Forensics in to disable logs of USB activity, flash drives, etc…
This can be valuable if you have a flash drive with sensitive data and you don’t want any logs of it ever being plugged it to your computer. How to remove traces by disabling or removing usb logs.

Step 1 – Delete the USBSTOR Registry Setting
The USBSTOR setting contains history of plugged in USB devices.
To delete it, hit the WINDOWS Home Button + R at the same time. This will open up ‘Run’; type: “Regedit” (without quotes). Browse to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetEnumUSBSTOR
Now, right click ‘USBSTOR’ and hit ‘Delete’, then confirm that you want to delete the key. Now, the key has been deleted.

Step 2 – Delete The Setupapi.log File
The Setuppapi.log is a plain-text file that stores the list of installed USB devices and their drivers. We will delete it with a program called CCleaner.
CCleaner is actually one of the best anti-forensic tools out there, and its free.

5. Disabling Time Stamps

Using Time Stamps, forensic experts can build a ‘digital time-line’, this can be very compelling evidence when cross-referenced with other known evidence. In order to strengthen security, we must disable these logs. How to remove traces by disabling time stamps.

Step 1- User Assist File
There is a registry setting that keeps logs and dates of all launch programs, forensic experts can use this to build a digital timeline, we must disable this for computer security. Navigate to HKEY_Current_UserSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentversionExplorerUser assist. Do this by hitting the Windows button on your keyboard and R at the same time and typing regedit in). You should see two subkeys called Count, delete both these keys. Now right-click the UserAssist key and create a new key named ‘Settings’. In this key (right clicking on it) create DWORD value named NoLog, set the value to 1.

Windows will no longer store hidden logs of the exact times you have been accesing files, therefore forensics experts can no longer use these hidden logs to create a digital timeline.
Step 2 – Last Access Logs

Next we will disable the last access in Windows. What last access is is a setting on Windows that allows you to see when you opened, modified, and/or created files on your computer and is similar to the UserAssist registry key. By disabling this forensic
experts won’t as easily be able to tell when you’ve been accessing programs or files on your computer.

To disable last access open command prompt on your computer, if on Vista or Windows 7 make sure to run as administrator. In command prompt type the following:
fsutil behavior set disablelastaccess 1

Last access has now been disabled, in order for it to take effect you must restart your computer. (You have to have admin rights to do this).

6. Windows Security Miscellaneous

This is for the shit that has to do with windows anti-forensic security, but wasn’t big enough to have its own section. That does NOT mean this section isn’t important, the stuff in here may actually be the most important in the whole guide. Below are some other ways to remove traces from your machine.

Step 1 – Disable System Restore Points
System Restore points can be used to bring your computer back to a date when it wasn’t secure and can also be used to restore overwritten files.
To disable System Restore points, right click ‘Computer’ and click ‘Properties’. Now click ‘Advanced System Settings’. Under ‘System Protection’ click ‘Configure’.
Now, select ‘Turn Of System Protection’ and apply it.

Step 2 – Disable ‘Send Error Report to Microsoft
This is self-explanatory, we obviously don’t want Microsoft having logs of all our crashed programs. To do this, go to your start menu and search ‘problem reporting settings’ and then click on ‘Choose How To Report Problems’. Click ‘Change Report Settings For All
Users’ and then set it to ‘Never check for solutions’.

Step 3 – Wipe With CCleaner
This is the heart of Anti-Forensics right here. CCleaner is actually one of the most powerful Anti-Forensic tools, -IF- used correctly.
As it turns out, when deleting files, you DO NOT need to do multiple overwrites. With modern hard-drives, one overwrite really is enough to delete a file beyond repair, even though it is popular belief that you need several overwrites to be secure.
With CCleaner, I would recommend three overwrites, just in-case it misses something the first time around (remember, it is a free software).

Once you have CCleaner installed, run it (AS ADMIN), go to ‘Settings’ and make sure you have it set to overwrite deleted data with three passes. Go back to ‘Cleaner’ and check EVERYTHING. I mean EVERYTHING, and hit ‘Run Cleaner’. You might want to leave this on overnight.

Do this every time you are done with a major hacking job. /how-to-make-an-auto-hacking-usb-drive-mac.html. When using normally (what should be every time you are done with your computer), uncheck ‘Wipe Free Space’, this will cut down the time from hours to a few minutes.

Step 4 – Disable Debugging Upon Failure
This keeps logs of your computers failures and blue screen info.
To disable it, right click ‘Computer’ and go to ‘Advanced System Settings’, now go to ‘Start Up and Recovery’. Now, set ‘Debugging Information’ to ‘None’.

Step 5 – Disable Windows Event Logging
Windows keeps logs of all events on the computer. First, before we disable, we must clear all the logs.
To disable it, go to Control Panel then System and Security. Now, click Administrative Tools, and then Event Viewer. In either pane of the Event Viewer window, right-click System and then select Clear All Events, you will get a window that says: “Do you want to save ‘System’ before clearing it?”, click ‘No’.

Now we must disable Windows Event Logging. Go to ‘Run’ and type in ‘msconfig’, then go to ‘Services’ and make sure ‘Hide all Microsoft Services’ is UNCHECKED. Now scroll down until you find ‘Windows Event Logging’, and UNCHECK it.

Now restart your computer right away.

7. Online Anonymity Guide

Hiding online identity and anonymity is essential; because it prevents you from getting traced or tracked down.

Proxies : Proxies are used mainly for security purposes and IP Address, it may be also used to speed up the loading of resources by caching, bypass parental controls and open blocked sites.

Web Proxies : Web Proxies are services that provides proxy access using a website, the function is, when you request a webpage, the server will contact the website indirectly and will server the resource to your web browser.

VPNs : VPNs are similar to proxies, it hides your IP address but the advantage is, it encrypts your traffic so that it would not be intercepted by data sniffing tools, it is useful for public wifi hotspots and for home/office use.

User-Agent Switcher : Spoofs and mimics a user-agent to hide the browsers’ identification.
IPFuck/IPFlood : Used for hiding IP address by using multiple proxies simultaneously, which obfuscates the user’s IP address.

8. Anonymity Tips

a. Do not post private information in the web, including your address, birth date and contact info, including on your registration details, if the authorities found one, they will use it to track you.
b. Do not engage private activities while on public places, other people might see you.
c. Always use anonymity tools so your IP address is masked, if in case they found it out, the IP is fake.
d. Do not brag or talk about hacking, obviously, if you brag/talk about it with your friends, they might report you to the police.
e. Hide your files in an encrypted container, encrypting data on the USB is better.
f. Always use SSL when its available; it encrypts your details so that it would be safe.
g. Use SSH (Secure Shell) when connecting to a remote system, one good example is PuTTy.
h. Never trust anyone; and rely on your instincts.
i. Try “proxy chaining”, or using of multiple proxies.
j. Use a VPN together with a high-anonymity proxy so that there would be an increased privacy advantage.

That’s all friends!! This is must for all Hackers. Keep Learning !! Keep Connected!!

Apple’s new operating system put a high emphasis on information protection, so it comes with added security measures. Password, being the heart of macOS security, makes it difficult for anyone to access your precious sensitive data. Such that, forgetting it can be a real disaster because it will lock out of your computer.

Many would agree that getting locked out of your Mac is not always a fun experience. It will prevent you from installing apps, making changes in System Preferences, accessing your files, and sometimes, deleting key files on your Mac. So, what do you do if you forgot the password for Mac?

What to Do If You’re Locked Out of Your Mac?

So you forgot your Mac’s password? There is no need to panic. Sometimes, it happens without your wish – for instance, if you have been using your Apple Watch or iPhone to unlock your Mac, or if you bought your computer secondhand and you have no clue about the old password. And in any case, you can still regain access to your Mac.

Thankfully, macOS comes with built-in tools to help you reset your password in Mac when you are in a situation like this. In this post, we will share tips on how to reset your password in Mac.

Some of these tips require preventive measures to be taken beforehand, while others may only apply if you have linked your Apple ID to your admin account. Regardless of your situation, just know that there is a way to get back into your Mac.

But before we look into that, you need to tidy up your computer. Forgotten passwords are usually a consequence of using a cluttered Mac. For this reason, you need to clean up your Mac to allow the new password to log you into a tidy and organized system. Use a robust tool like TweakBit MacRepair to organize your digital folders, remove junk on your Mac, and improve your memory.

How to Reset Your Mac User Account Password?

To regain access to your Mac, use any of the following methods to reset your password:

Mac Computer Locked Up Because Of Hacking Iphone

Method #1: Get a Password Hint

Before attempting any password recovery trick, check if the password hint can ignite your memory. In this case, the password hint is a phrase relating to your password that you entered when you first set it up.

To trigger the hint, make three incorrect attempts:

1. Go to System Preferences.
2. Select Users & Groups.
3. Tap on the Lock icon in the bottom-left corner.
4. Now, press the Return key three times.
5. After the third attempt, your password hint will appear below the Password field. Hopefully, it will create a eureka moment, making you recall the forgotten password.

Note that the hint may not show up. The reason is that your computer wasn’t set up to display password hints in the Login Options. But this issue should not bother you too much since there are other ways to reset your password.

Method #2: Use Another Admin Account to Reset the Password

If you have more than one admin account set up on your Mac – for instance, if you share your Mac with another person – you can use one of them to reset your password. Here is how to do it:

1. Log into your other admin account.
2. Now, open System Preferences and select Users & Groups.
3. Click on the Lock icon to change the settings.
4. Enter your username and password once again.
5. In the left sidebar, choose the admin account you are locked out of, and then tap on the Reset Password button.
6. Enter your new password twice. You should also create a hint because it will come in handy if you ever forget the password.
7. Click Change password.
8. That’s it. You can now log out of your other admin account and then log back into your Mac using the newly created password.

Method #3: Use Recovery Mode to Reset the Password

If you haven’t enabled the FileVault feature, there is even a more straightforward way to reset your password on your Mac: use Recovery Mode. Here is the process:

1. Turn off your Mac.
2. Press the Power button to turn it on back, then press the Command + R shortcut.
3. Hold down the keys until the Apple logo appears. The process may take a while, but you will see a progress bar informing you that your device is booting into Recovery Mode.
4. With your Mac in Recovery Mode, head to the menu bar and click Utilities > Terminal.
5. Now, run the following command to launch the Reset Password Utility: resetpassword.
6. After that, close the Terminal window to access the Reset Password tool.
7. Choose the account you want to reset from the list of user accounts. To reset the password for your account, you need to create a new password for all users.
8. Now, enter your new password plus a password hint.
9. Click Save > OK.
10. Restart your Mac and log in using the new password.

Method #4: Use Your Apple ID

After entering a wrong password a couple of times, macOS usually gives you an option to reset your password using your Apple ID. Alternatively, you can also tap on the question mark icon beside the password field to trigger the same process.

After keying in your Apple ID and password, you will get an alert letting you know that a new keychain that has your password will be generated. When the alert pops up, click OK and follow the rest of the prompts to create a new password. While your old keychain will remain locked, it will still be saved on your computer. So, you can unlock it if you ever remember the old password.

Note that this trick will only work if you have linked your user account with your Apple ID. Also, you shouldn’t have FileVault enabled.

Method #5: Use Target Disk Mode

If you can’t use any of the above password-resetting methods, your other alternative is to use Target Disk Mode. It will recover some data from your problematic Mac. In other words, you can access the hard disk of your Mac from another Mac.

To activate Target Disk Mode, follow the steps below:

1. Shut down your computer.
2. Now, connect the Mac to another Mac via a Thunderbolt cable. Sadly, this trick doesn’t work with USB.
3. Turn on your Mac and hold down the T key as it boots.
4. With your Mac in Target Disk Mode, you should be able to access it as a hard drive on your other Mac.

Last-Ditch Effort: Reinstall macOS

If you have FileVault enabled, and you can’t regain access to your account, your only remaining option is to reinstall macOS because you will not have access to any file on your computer. Hopefully, you have backup copies of these files because you cannot access without your password.

Reduce Incidences of Lost Password

Before you get locked out of your Mac, set up an Apple ID. This way, you have a backup way of getting into your Mac if you ever forget your account password. If possible, create more than one user account on your Mac. Also, change your user account password to something unique, but easy to remember.

On a related note, you can also manage all your passwords using the built-in password manager – Keychain Access. This way, you don’t have to remember them every time you log into your Mac. But, like in the case with passwords, you may also fail to access your Keychain due to various reasons. If that is the case, consult this guide to resolve the issue.

Summing Up

In this era of digital information, data protection is no longer a luxury. Some Mac users may prefer working without the need to log in, but this situation may put you in trouble, especially when you are required to maintain strict confidentiality. This security measure is inevitable for organizations these days, but not so good if you forgot the password for Mac.

Of course, it is always a good idea to remember your passwords and PIN codes. How to hack a school computer mac. But if you find yourself locked out of your Mac, you don’t have to fret because you now know how to get back in. You can use any of the above methods to regain access to your Mac. But if all else fails, consider reporting the incident to Apple.

Do you have other worries about resetting or changing your Mac’s password? Share them in the comments.