How to disable WiFi and Bluetooth on IMACs??

[PrepressCop]

I need to hardware disable the WiFi and Bluetooth on my "White" IMACs. 6 in total. I work somewhere that security is Number One. I have software disable them so far but I need to disable them sooner than later.

Thanks for your help.

PrepressCop

[mattbeals]

You'd think you work at the CIA print shop or something....

You can just remove the airport card and bluetooth transceiver from the iMac if you want to crack the case. That's really the only "secure" way of doing it.

[PrepressCop]

Not CIA but close. Another 3 letter Federal agency... Could you inform me how to open up the case.

Thanks...

[doubting_thomas]

You're kidding, right?

[DavidMa]

if you have a Mac mini:

http://www.macworld.com/weblogs/edit...side/index.php


iMac:


http://www.macworld.com/2001/10/bc/howtoimac/




if you don't have either, post the exact model and we should be able to help further.

[PrepressCop]

Nope

[PrepressCop]

OK... I was bored so I opened up one of my White Intel IMacs and I think I found the WiFi chipset and the bluetooth chip. They are 5 or so Trox screws on the bottem (by the Memory door) that I unscrewed and I pulled up the front of the case and it pop right off. Those chipsets need a small Trox screwdriver and I could not find one so I pulled off the attached antenna to somewhat disable the range of them. I need to get a smaller Trox screwdriver later to finsh the job. I could not take any pictures because cameras are not allowed in here.

[Jim_T]

damn i guess our tax money doesn't go far today..........you'd figure an goverment agency would have an IT department............

things that make you go hmmmmmmmm.

[chasd]

You can disable the wireless networking in the "Network" control panel or use the "Airport Admin Utility"
For Bluetooth, there is a Bluetooth utility, or you can use the BlueTooth menubar pull down.

On a Mac Mini, you can disable the antenna for either easily once the case is open. I don't have experience with other Mac models that have that stuff included by default.

You really shouldn't have to disable the hardware, the software tools are enough. Make sure the end user doesn't have admin privileges to turn those back on, and make sure "Require password to unlock each secure system preference" is turned on in the "Security" control panel.

Turning wireless access off on systems is not only for "CIA" types. It is prudent for _any_ company that does not use that technology. Additionally, turning off that technology usually also turns off the power to those devices, which saves on the electricity bill ( and helps delay Global Warming ).

Cavalier attitudes toward security is what has created the spam problem we are all forced to live with, among other things. If you don't use it, turn it off or un-install it.

Chasd.

[mattbeals]

Sage advice again Charles. But personally I think that in this instance removing the hardware is the "best" way to go.