There are several reasons why we choose to lock and unlock Mac with USB, such as limiting the need to enter a password every time you open the computer, adding an extra layer of system security, ... If you don't know how to lock and unlock your Mac with USB, readers can refer to the article below by Mytour.
Unlocking and Locking Your Mac Using USB
Rohos Key Logon software can program USB drives, mobile devices, and even Bluetooth devices to act as keys to unlock the system. Rohos Key Logon is available for both Windows and macOS. Additionally, the paid app also includes a trial version for users to try before deciding to continue using it.
Refer to the following Mytour article to learn how to lock and unlock your Mac with USB, using Rohos Key Logon.
Note: In this guide, Mytour performs on macOS Sierra 10.12.4 Developer Beta; you can apply these steps on other macOS versions.
Step 1: Download Rohos Key Logon to your computer and install it on your Mac. Note that you will need to restart your Mac after the installation process is complete.
Download Rohos Key Logon to your computer and install it here: Rohos Key Logon for Mac
Step 2: Next, on the Mac menu bar, find and click on the Rohos Key Logon icon, access Open Rohos Logon to open the main window of the application.
Step 3: Here, click on the USB Drive option. Make sure the USB drive you want to use for login is connected to your Mac.
Step 4: On the next window, enter your system login password, select the USB drive you want to use as a key, then click OK
Step 5: Next, choose the action you want to take when the USB drive is removed from the system. If you don't want to take any action when the USB drive is removed, simply select Nothing on the next window.
However, to ensure better safety and security, Mytour recommends selecting Lock the Desktop when removing the USB drive. This option locks your Mac, preventing prying eyes from other users.
From now on, you can easily lock and unlock your Mac by inserting the USB drive correctly. However, if someone knows your login password, they can still log into the system. To prevent this situation, follow the steps below:
Step 1: From the Rohos Key Logon icon on the menu bar, click on Preferences.
Step 2: Here, check the box next to the Allow login only by USB key option.
This ensures that you can only log in to your Mac if the USB drive is connected to the system. This method is very secure but also comes with a bit of risk in case you lose the USB drive or it gets damaged. So it's best not to disable the password login option, or if you do, you should prepare at least 2 USB drives to lock and unlock your Mac.
Delete USB Key
If you don't want to use a USB drive to lock and unlock your Mac, you can easily delete the USB drive from Rohos. Follow the steps below:
Step 1: On the Rohos Key Logon menu bar icon, click on Open Rohos Logon.
Step 2: Here, click on Delete Key.
Step 3: Select the USB drive you want to delete, then click Delete.
This action will delete the USB drive used to lock and unlock your Mac, and you can use your password to log in to your Mac as before.
Rohos Key Logon offers a 15-day trial version, after which users will need to pay $25 to continue using the software. If you're looking for free alternatives for Windows, you can choose USB Raptor or other replacement software. USB Raptor works quite well, suitable for locking or unlocking Windows computers.
Protecting Your System with Physical Access Keys
Physical access keys are one of the safest security solutions you can use to protect your system, your computer, and prevent unauthorized access. Even if thieves steal your device, they cannot log into the system unless they have access to the USB key you created. However, losing the USB key also poses risks, so Mytour recommends preparing a spare key to avoid potential mishaps.
In this article, Mytour has just guided you on how to lock and unlock your Mac with USB. Additionally, if you have any questions or need clarification, readers can leave their comments below the article, and Mytour will respond as soon as possible. If you are using Windows 10, you can learn how to secure USB on Windows 10 here.
