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Inspired by this question: How to mess up a PC running Windows 7?, I'm interested in repairable ways that you could intentionally 'mess up' a Mac computer.

Note from a Mod on the other question, that should also be mentioned here:

If you suggest ways to disable/break the computer, please include information on how to fix whatever it is you're breaking as well, if it is not immediately obvious.

One-liner answers, that fail to explain how they work or what the do, will be converted to comments.

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  • 1
    Macs cannot be messed up. I hear that Macs "just work".
    – user541686
    May 5, 2011 at 23:06
  • 1
    I completely disagree
    – nopcorn
    May 31, 2011 at 22:25
  • Unplug it. 8-)}
    – Keith Thompson
    Oct 19, 2011 at 4:21
  • @Mehrdad, its strange but my experience with them was that they couldn't be trusted to work right...
    – Austin T French
    Aug 25, 2013 at 17:27

9 Answers 9

Reset to default
5

Use Control-Option-Command-8 to invert the screen colors.

enter image description here

Press it again to turn it back, it's somewhere in the options so those that don't know the hotkey have to hunt.

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  • 2
    In a similar vein, Apple-Fn-F5 turns on VoiceOver which gives a running commentary on everything on the screen.
    – blahdiblah
    Jun 1, 2011 at 0:07
3

Install MacDefender

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    I couldn't find it in the Mac App Store... :)
    – JavaAndCSharp
    Jul 11, 2011 at 16:22
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If you can enable the root user, the easiest thing to do would be to chown the user folders of every user account, and then use chmod to prevent the original users accessing them. This is reversed easily enough, as the owner should be clear from the name of the user folder.

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2

Add an AppleScript as a log in item with the following content:

tell application "System Events"
    log out
end tell

Then, every time the user logs in, they will be logged out again. Optionally add a (possibly random) delay and/or a humorous/obnoxious message. To get back use of the computer, hold the shift key down while logging in to disable log in items, then remove the log in item.

For a bit of nostalgia, remember doing similar things with a shut down AppleScript and the Startup Items folder on Mac OS?

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A quick one I like to do is press cmdctlshift3 to copy a full screen capture, then open Preview and press cmdN and cmdshiftF to open the screen shot in full screen.

Move the floating controls off the screen if it's a newer version of Preview, and it looks like the computer is frozen.

Pressing esc will exit the full screen view.

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1
  • This is given away by the Dock and menu bar sliding over the full screen view.
    – Lri
    May 12, 2011 at 12:03
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Move (or delete) the /System/Library/Fonts folder. Need to use the Console from the CD (or Super User mode) to move the files back. Allows you to log on, but you can't do anything as there is NO text

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  • Cant believe that works! You'd think there would be some kind of backup for system fonts? Would love to see what it looks like (Dont have a Mac to try it on)
    – Connor W
    May 31, 2011 at 22:14
  • Basically, every character gets replaced with squares. The menus are HUMUNGOUS (sp?) and have to scroll, even if the menu only has a couple items. Definitely a sight to see
    – Canadian Luke
    Jul 28, 2011 at 2:48
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Change the keyboard layout to DVORAK or similar. Change the login keyboard layout to DVORAK without a warning notification.

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Open the /etc/hosts file, and add entries like

127.0.0.1   google.com

Substitute google.com for any legit site. To reverse, remove the line. You need to reboot for changes to take effect

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1
  • You don't have to reboot, only flush your dns cache.
    – Milo Wielondek
    May 3, 2012 at 22:01
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Go to accessibility, and enable two things, one called "slow keys" and one called "mouse keys" There should be a slider for slow keys. Move it up to longest. Slow keys makes it so you have to hold down the key for longer for it to take effect. Mouse keys disables the letter keys. The combination of these two makes it almost impossible to type. Also, greyscale their computer and move the contrast bar up to maximum. It makes their computer look like a messed up cartoon. Glad to be of service! EDIT: Another fun thing is to set a time to make the computer auto shut down. It's somewhere in system preferences. Energy saver maybe?

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1
  • How did you figure all that out?
    – user273580
    Jun 9, 2013 at 22:04

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