TestOut LabSim A+ Certification Practice Exam

What should you do to configure your computer so that a password is required before the operating system will load?

1. Install a third-party boot loader

2. Enable secure boot in UEFI

3. Configure a user password in the BIOS

4. Set a password on the operating system

The correct answer is: Configure a user password in the BIOS

To require a password before the operating system can load, configuring a user password in the BIOS is the appropriate approach. This setting adds a layer of security by preventing unauthorized users from booting the computer without entering the correct password. When a password is set in the BIOS, the system will prompt for it at startup, meaning that users cannot bypass this step to access the operating system or the data on the hard drive. Setting a password on the operating system does help secure access to user accounts and data once the OS has loaded, but it does not prevent someone from booting the computer and accessing it or its files directly through recovery tools or alternative OS environments. Enabling secure boot in UEFI contributes to system security but is more about allowing only trusted operating systems to load rather than requiring a password. Installing a third-party boot loader does not inherently add a password requirement and is not necessary for simple password protection before the OS loads.