Is there a way....?

[LadyGrey]

Hi everyone,
Could you tell me please if there is a setting on or in the computer and/or W2K to prevent anyone but me from using the computer? This is my computer, not the IBM bomb, I have the computer itself password protected so that I don't think anyone can actually start it if it is shut down but is there a way without shutting down the computer all the time to prevent anyone from using it even if it is on? Also is there a way to tell if someone has tried to get into the computer and use it or start it? I have the event viewer shortcut to my desktop so I won't loose it again, would that tell me?
Any help or suggestions would be most welcome. Thanks very much! LG;)

[Budfred]

An armed guard, but only if the guard was completely computer illiterate.

Unfortuately, someone who knows enough about computers can break into pretty much any computer and leave on obvious traces. Fortunately, most of us are not that adept or malicious. You can use Windows to set password protection to prevent most casual access. I believe there is a way to track use as well, but I don't know enough to be able to tell you about that.

Budfred

[Vic 970]

are you looking for something like this


http://www.tropsoft.com/pcsecurity/


more on google search ref: pc security.

[YODA74]

There are a lot of things you can do but most if not all are not free

BrowserShield http://www.arlington.com.au/acb.asp

http://www.custom-solution.com/
http://www.custom-solution.com/images/uru.jpg

[ErnieK]

Hi there LG
Have you tried password protecting your screen saver? Do not know how effective this would be though. Another way would be to install TweakXP (if it works in W2K) and password protect from there.

[Fruss Tray Ted]

About as effective as:
Shut the machine off. Reboot. Let Scandisk do it's thing and you're in! Not effective at all.

Get a front load drive bay and put your harddrive in your purse when you are away from the pc. If someone tries to take it from you, WHACK'EM with it!!! :eek:

A front panel keyswitch works somewhat...

[Jiggy]

use a BIOS pass word, in BIOS look for pass word but dont forget it, it wont even do the POST untill the passwod is in, i used one a few years back.
sorry miss read your post.

[Fruss Tray Ted]

SSHH!!! (To override use the reset jumpers on the motherboard...) SSHH!!! Keep it a secret ;)

[Whyzman]

Hmmmmmmm......Even if the whole thing is password protected etc...

Could someone pull the drive...slave it to another system and look through your files???

Sounds like we need Ghost...;)

[Budfred]

How computer literate and persistant are the people that you want to keep out? If they aren't too literate and persistent, the screen saver password is probably enough. If they are both, laser activated alarm systems, armed guards with IQs under 100, pit bulls trained to attack anyone who enters a particular key combination, and a removable drive that you consistently remove and seal in a vault should be sufficient.:eek: :eek: :D :D :D :D

Budfred

[Whyzman]

Do they have removable face plates for computers, like those on car stereos? If so, be sure not to put it under your front seat or in the glove compartment...that's where the thieves look first! ;) :D

Just killing time here whilst I feed my Pit Bulls and see if Ghost shows up. I'd like to find and easier way to secure mine...my furniture is getting chewed up and they eat a lot of dog chow.

The laser system cut holes into my clothes when I forgot to shut them down, and when I tried the IQ challenged Armed Guard thing...they couldn't even find my house! :D :D :D

[LadyGrey]

Lord, we don't have a computer board we got a stand up comedy club:D :D :D :D :D You all just made my day!!!
The persons I'm trying to save my computer from are not in any way computer savvy. These are the ones who messed up Donnies computer inside of three days that it took us a week to fix. The girlfriend says she knows computers but doesn't know what a browser is, or a link, or even Outlook Express. I have to leave tomorrow morning to take Donnie to the Dr. and I was just curious as to the ways and means of protecting my computer besides shutting it down. I've noticed that in my W2K there is my log on but there is also a guest log on, could that be used to bypass the start up for my log on. Good gosh, I'm really making a whole devil of a lot of sense here. I hope you understand what I mean! As for taking out the hdds and taking them with me don't put it past me!! With everything you all have taught me I'm quite capable of doing it:p I will consider the armed guard too, might be nice at my age to have a young man standing guard!;)
I'll go check out some things and see what I can come up with, other than that I'll just have to keep shutting it down every time I leave the house. Thanks all!! LG;)
oh, I'll go set the screen saver password too, never even thought about that! LG

[Budfred]

Given the apparent lack of computer savvy in the suspects, I would probably go with the screensaver password or some other password system to protect on short absences and shut it down so that you BIOS password will protect on longer absences...

I'm glad you enjoyed the security recommendations.;) :D

Budfred

[CuratoR]

Well, if its W2K, why don't you give it the three finger salute(CTRL+ALT+DEL) and lock the computer, ofcourse u gotta have the login password set. Screensaver password is not a bad idea either.

[YODA74]

Lord, we don't have a computer board we got a stand up comedy club

"Drum roll" enjoy the show were here all week:D

[Ghost_Hacker]

CuratoR has already mentioned my favorite way to lock a computer when I step away from it...just hit CTRL+ALT+DEL and choose "lock computer". To log back in just do CTRL+ALT+DEL again and type in your password.

Also is there a way to tell if someone has tried to get into the computer and use it or start it?

Event viewer will show logon events in the security log, but first you must enable logon auditing.


To do this first open your control panel and choose "administrative tools", then choose "local security policy". Now on the left window pane you'll see several folders, open the one marked "local policies", then click the folder under it called "audit policy". Once you do that on the right side window pane you'll see several policies, one of which is called "Audit logon events". Double click it and you'll have the option to log "success" or "failure" . Reboot for the policy to become enabled.


Now whenever anyone attempts to log on to your computer it will be recorded in the security log of event viewer. You just have to double click the event in the security log to find out the details.



Hope this helps :)

[Whyzman]

Ghost,

I don't run W2k so I'm out of my league here...but what would happen with the Ctrl+Alt+Del scenario for locking if someone just hit the power button and attempted to reboot? I'm assuming that a "mechanical" shut down and reboot would override a software lock...unless it reboots to the former lock position so...

Would it lose the lock on reboot?

[mjc]

It should boot to the log on screen......which if the guest account is restricted in some way would only leave the user/admin accounts to log in to......and they should be passworded.

[ErnieK]

Nice sleekit (Scots word for devious or underhand) way to stop anyone getting into computer. tools needed = one screwdriver and 2 minutes of time.

If the plug on the power cable has a fuse inserted (as here in UK) just remove this fuse, put plug back together, reinsert it into wall socket.

If any one tries to start computer they get no power. Walla! They go away thinking your computer is broken :D

[Whyzman]

Ernie, Ernie, Ernie....you should be ashamed of yourself! :( That is downright sneaky! :p :D

[LadyGrey]

You all are just great!!! Thank you so much Ghost, your directions were perfect and I now have the logon event enabled! Never knew there was so much to Win 2000. I've only been using it a year and I've spent most of the time just learning to get around in it to do the simple things. I'm just all set now I think. I've got the computer password protected and the screen saver protected and now the event viewer, I will not be so scared to leave my computer now. I had no one but me here at home to worry about till the kids had to come back and so I wasn't in the least worried about my computer. Hubby can't even get near a computer and they crash from him just looking at them so he was no problem. Donnie had his own so I just didn't think twice about security. Since things have changed here and since in three days they crashed Donnies computer I was scared silly about mine. Gosh I feel so much better now!:) :)
I think Ernies idea was pretty coool. I was thinking along those lines, taking the cord and just putting the whole thing in my pocket and taking it with me!:D Along with FTTs and Budfreds ideas too! I'm still considering the armed guard!:D :D
Thanks all very much!! LG;)