Available only on Mac computers that have the Apple T2 Security Chip, Startup Security Utility offers three features to help secure your Mac against unauthorized access: Firmware password protection, Secure Boot, and External Boot.
To open Startup Security Utility:
- Turn on your Mac, then press and hold Command (⌘)-R immediately after you see the Apple logo. Your Mac starts up from macOS Recovery.
- When you see the macOS Utilities window, choose Utilities > Startup Security Utility from the menu bar.
- When you're asked to authenticate, click Enter macOS Password, then choose an administrator account and enter its password.
Firmware password protection
Use a firmware password to prevent anyone who doesn't have the password from starting up from a disk other than your designated startup disk. To set a firmware password, click Turn On Firmware Password, then follow the onscreen instructions. Learn more about firmware passwords.
To get started, boot your Mac in Safe Mode by holding down the Shift key at startup. Log in to your Mac normally, and you should see the macOS Utilities app open. Select Disk Utility and press Continue. Then, from the Disk Utility sidebar, select the volume that you’re using and choose File Mount from the Menu bar at the top of the screen. First, open up Start All Programs, and search through the menu for the app you want to start at boot. Right-click on it and hit 'Copy'. This will copy the shortcut.
You can also use External Boot to prevent even those who know the firmware password from starting up from external media.
Secure Boot
Use this feature to make sure that your Mac starts up only from a legitimate, trusted operating system. Learn more about Secure Boot.
External Boot
Use this feature to control whether your Mac can start up from an external hard drive, thumb drive, or other external media. The default and most secure setting is ”Disallow booting from external media.” When this setting is selected, your Mac can't be made to start up from any external media:
- Startup Disk preferences displays a message that your security settings do not allow this Mac to use an external startup disk.
- Startup Manager allows you to select an external startup disk, but doing so causes your Mac to restart to a message that your security settings do not allow this Mac to use an external startup disk. You'll then have the option to restart from your current startup disk or select another startup disk.
To allow your Mac to use an external startup disk:
- Open Startup Security Utility.
- Select ”Allow booting from external media.”
Your Mac doesn't support booting from network volumes, whether or not you allow booting from external media. - If you want to select an external startup disk before restarting your Mac, quit Startup Security Utility, then choose Apple menu > Startup Disk.
Mac OS X 10.7 Lion has got 200+ updates than its previous version Snow Leopard. If you have not upgraded to Mac OS X Lion till now, then you may consider upgrade to Mac OS X 10.7 Lion to experience the worlds stable operating system by Apple. Do read How to Burn Mac OS X Lion to DVD to keep the file handy once the download completed, as you may need that file for future installation. Here i have a simple tip that helps you to enable or disable startup programs on Mac OS X Lion.
Step 1: Go to Applications -> System Preferences -> Users and Groups.
Step 2: Select Login Items from the Tab.
By default it will show you Password Tab, you can select Login Items to access the list of items that are currently enabled and runs on start up.
There you can add or remove applications that you dont want to start when your Macbook, iMac or Macbook Air Boot into Desktop.
Mac Allow An App At Startup Software
Apple is also working on Mac OS X Mountain Lion 10.8 to bring some more extra ordinary upgrade this time. You can have a look at Mountain Lion OS X features from apple website. Also, apple is going to push this software upgrade through Mac App Store and you cannot purchase Mountain Lion OS X DVD Disc anywhere outside.