Keys please . . .

[Donn]

From the thread "Final Checklist" VikingCrown wrote:

Here's the case I got from Newegg yesterday
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProdu...-147-005&depa=1


My question is--in this pic the 'on' button in front looks like it could be a lock slot for a key, is it? Does anyone make a case with an 'on' switch that is incorporated into a key/lock mechanism?

[pentachris]

I think you meant this (http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=11-147-005&depa=1). :)

I've seen cases that had keys to limit access to the buttons on the front, yes. But not one to kill the power button.

[Donn]

Amazing, such a simple solution to security, you'd think there'd be designer models to chose from--cuts power, locks up the side panel. . .strange, but
why do I have the feeling I just gave away a millyun dollar idea. . . :(

[Fruss Tray Ted]

Lot's of older pc's have key locks to prevent opening the case but I've never seen them incorporate the power switch into it. Not a bad idea but where or what situation would warrant it?

Better hurry up and get it patented just in case though... :p

[jlreich]

Lot's of older pc's have key locks to prevent opening the case but I've never seen them incorporate the power switch into it. Not a bad idea but where or what situation would warrant it?

Better hurry up and get it patented just in case though... :p

I have a old case that has a lock that appears to get in the way of the power switch, in order to stop the power switch from being turned on. It is not a button like modern power switches, rather more like a light switch. I think locks were abandoned for the use of passwords.

Then you have servers that have a lock on the front of the case. So you can't get to any of the CD/floppy drives or anything else.

[Whyzman]

Seems like a good idea, especially, if one's computer switch is exposed to young children looking for some entertainment...

Specifically, I'm thinking of ambulatory toddlers who are bent on mimicking adult behavior...

[Donn]

I'm also surprised someone hasn't put a timer on an auto-shut down to keep the kids from playing on the PC all day instaed of getting them ooutside in the sunshine. . . and actually now that I think about --the public library here in Towson ha this program on their public PCs. But it would also keep the preteens and teens from going after porn sites or possible malware infested sites when Mom and Dad aren't home, or when you are away from the house for whatever read--just general security. We lock the house and the car, right? Why not the PC. . .

:)

[jlreich]

The timer on the kids would be a good one. They spend way to much time on the computer.....well, there goes the kettle calling the pot black, or however the saying goes. LOL :D

As for porn sites and such, I used to use Norton's parental controls(pw protected). Not that I thought my kids would go somewhere on purpose, but being redirected by a hijacker, or putting in the wrong search term by accident. One wrong letter can make all the difference. But the controls would take over 12% of system memory(123MB of1GB ram). :eek: Causing a noticeable slowdown. After I started coming here, and started using Spywareblaster, IE Spypads, and ........ I figured it wasn't necessary anymore, and dropped Norton like the bloated system resource hog it is. If I had boys, I would be more worried about them going to porn sites on purpose. ;)

As a side note, the controls do work well. I help maintain the computers at work, and there is this one guy who liked to come in early before anyone else, and go to porn sites. Not that I care what he does with his personal time, but almost everyday I was busy cleaning off viruses, browser hijackers, and CWS crap to the point the computer was unusable. So I proposed to my supervisor to block porn sites with Norton. Well, after six days of him complaining to me and my supervisor every morning that I messed up his computer, that it was not good for anything anymore(he was extremely:mad: ), I was told to take off the controls. After removing the controls, I happened to look in the log, and found that after only six days, Norton had blocked over 400 attempts to connect to sex related sites. :eek: WOW! Point is, Norton was definitely doing it's job.

Well, enough of my rambling. :p Keys and passwords are definitely a good idea.

[Whyzman]

Even if they can't get in without a password...I wouldn't want someone booting my computer up and shutting down using the power button if they didn't know what they were doing...adult or little tyke...

Somehow, I have this image of one of those devices you lock onto your steering wheel to keep your car from being stolen...seems a bit cumbersome...hehe!

[jlreich]

The lock on the old case I have is the same as one you would find any general purpose lock box. It turns to get in the way of the switch being pushed down. I would think that it would not be very difficult to make something to block modern power buttons from being pushed in. Or even to mod a existing case. Hmmm........


Edit- I just took a closer look at the old case. I was wrong, it doesn't move in the way at all. It has two wires attached to it, leading me to believe it cuts power to the switch.

[pave_spectre]

The locks I have on my old machines all connect to a header on the motherboard labeled as 'Kbd Lck' or similar which I have assumed is short for Keyboard Lock.
Have never bothered to look it up but at a guess I would say it disables the keyboard in some fashion.