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How do I disable the IR infrared port on my Mac?

After reading about the Gizmodo bloggers wandering CES and flicking off TVs left and right, my company is paranoid someone will do a similar stunt to our displays in our Macworld exhibit booth. That'd would be a huge problem. Short of duct tape, is there some way to prevent this problem?

Dave's Answer:

I can't express here just how appalled I am at the sophomoric stunt that the Giz team did at the huge Consumer Electronics Show, but suffice to say, they're now permanently out of my feed reader and don't expect to see any links from this site for the foreseeable future...

Anyway, on to your question. Yes, there is a pretty straightforward way to disable the IR port on your Mac systems. You need to start with Apple --> System Preferences, then choose Security:

System Preferences: Security: General (Mac OS X)

The checkbox you want is located near the bottom of the "General" tab, as shown above. It says "Disable remote control infrared receiver" and below it warns you that "This computer will work with any available remote."

Check this option and close the window and now, if you test it, you should find that the Mac is ignoring the IR port and therefore cannot be monkeyed with by anyone who should feel that malicious mischief at a trade show is funny.

The interesting thing is that you don't really need any fancy gear at all, and most modern Mac systems include the little white remote control, which does indeed work with any IR-enabled Mac you point it at, not just the one it's paired with. That being the case, it's notable that I have never heard of any problems at trade shows or otherwise with this capability, so perhaps this is a paranoid reaction to the tempest-in-a-teapot of Gizmodo at CES. Buuuuttttt... then again, for the additional hassle of spending 30 seconds/computer to ensure it can't happen, I think this is good insurance.

Hat tip to The Unofficial Apple Weblog for pointing this capability out in the first place.

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Categorized: Mac OS X Help (Article 7834)
Tagged: ces, gizmodo, hacking, security, trade shows
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Comments

Thank you! I KNEW I'd seen that option somewhere. Leave it to Apple to hide it in the totally unintuitive "Security" section. You'd think it would be under Mouse/Keyboard or Bluetooth or Networking, or even Handicap User Interface! sheesh

Thanks! I can finally remove the gaffers' tape and the AppleTV remote won't keep installing whatever that app is that wants to play DVDs on the MacBook!

I don't suppose you know how to make AppleTV play all my ripped DVDs on the server without converting them to ATV specific files with extra dual-audio format mp4 files. Apple isn't making me very happy lately. :-/

I noticed you know about Sony products too. Do you know the secrets to making the PS3 play the DVD rips? And while I'm at it, is there a way to rip my blu-ray discs to the server and have the PS3 and AppleTV play back HD?

Thanks!
Posted by: captain at August 5, 2009 3:32 PM

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Posted by: captain at August 5, 2009 3:37 PM

i do not have a Disable remote control infrared receiver button, i have 1.6.2 snow leopard. can u help at all
Posted by: curt at November 28, 2009 2:56 AM

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I do have a lot to say, and questions of my own for that matter, but first I'd like to say thank you for all your efforts on this Web site by buying you a cup of coffee!

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