Calibretto
VIP Member
I've wanted some of that software for a while, but it seems like all of them are just spyware. Recommend any?
Prevent people from getting on my computer
- Thread starter Calibretto
- Start date
tlarkin
VIP Member
Something like this
http://www.snapshotspy.com/
and then for web protection you can install K-9 web client (google it) and it will redirect all browsing unless you use a password. So, they won't be able to use the internets on your computer.
I would honestly write my own if it were me and then set it to cron but I am not sure for Windows users.....
There are legit software products out there for spying though.
Calibretto
VIP Member
Haha, only if I knew anything about coding...
tlarkin
VIP Member
It is not hard to write simple shell scripts in Linux/Unix/OS X and they can be very powerful tools. I just don't program anything for windows and my programming knowledge is extremely novice.
Just so you know, if you go down the encryption route then TrueCrypt makes you burn a CD which you can use to unencrypt the partition if the files ystem gets damaged.
Also you should take images/backups of your PC anyway so if the file system does get corrupted you can restore it back.
Also you should take images/backups of your PC anyway so if the file system does get corrupted you can restore it back.
Euklid
Member
Can you remove the password from the administrator account in windows
doing that - or just format the harddrive? I mean, if his roommates are
sneaking on his computer, the point is to use it and not leave any traces.
So if you root access his hard-drive just to destroy the data, you might
as well save the time and just take a baseball bat to his tower.
tlarkin
VIP Member
There is a plethora of tools that will root admin accounts for windows boxes and all you need to do is boot off of the said media to do so. It is meant as a tool for an administrator of a system who has forgotten their passwords, and well other exploitative type stuff.
Many OSes have similar features. If you give me physical access to any type of machine be it a PC, Mac, Sunstation, whatever, running any OS I can root them all with physical access.
Remotely rooting a machine is the true art of a hacker, because you don't get the luxury of resetting the BIOS, booting off of media, target disk mode booting, or even like PXE or netbooting. You also can't pull the hard drive out remotely and toss it into an enclosure and access the file system that way either.
There are ways to avoid this, like encrypting your file system but that causes so much problems and isn't meant for your average user.
I would probably just tell my roommates not to use it, or set up a guest account and let them use that and limit what it can do, then track what they do and call them on it if they download stupid stuff or do something I don't like, perhaps watch porn or whatever.
This quite a funny topic, on xp home the admin account is not password protected but u can add a password to it but I think the bios boot password is prob the best even tho I kno its easy to get past also, theres loads of software u can get or just take the sata cable from the hard drive maybe? Nobody knows much about computers in my house so I just use the normal vista password and setup a guest account,, lol
G25r8cer
Active Member
The way I see it is this. Software protection can almost always be cracked/hacked. Hardware, umm not so much. Like others mentioned I would put a key/ignition type switch for power. Then also another hidden switch for hdd power if your really paranoid.
I got nothing to worry about here though. No passwords on either of my OS's. I feel perfectly safe. And If I dont well then I'll just take my hdd's out and put them in my safe.
I got nothing to worry about here though. No passwords on either of my OS's. I feel perfectly safe. And If I dont well then I'll just take my hdd's out and put them in my safe.
tlarkin
VIP Member
I agree with smajer. Having a fingerprint, retina and voice scanner all in one would probably be your best bet.
Physical access trumps any and all security that is a complete waste of time money and effort.
A hidden power switch may work for a while and so could pulling a cable out but once that is learned it is very easily bypassed.
Euklid
Member
If you're living with spies.
PohTayToez
Active Member
Right. Because that would be harder to get around that the login password he has now. Also, most motherboards definitely don't just go down the boot order and boot from the next drive. Absolutely brilliant.
tlarkin
VIP Member
No it just takes common logic to deduct if you add something that is missing it works again. If I went up to one of your guy's computers and saw finger print scanners, and missing cables, and power switches I would laugh. Physical access trumps any and all security no matter what.
bomberboysk
Active Member
Lock on side panel, numbered switch on the psu, keyed lock on power, hidden switch to hard drive and mobo power. I think that would keep most people at bay, short of encrypting your entire hard drive 256bit.
tlarkin
VIP Member
1) Hydraulic assisted bolt cutters, not too expensive and yes I have some.
2) Kill switches can be a pain to figure out, but if I got physical access I can take my time. Eventually I will figure it out. Plus there are manual ways to trigger a PSU, which I have done before.
3) Reset the BIOS once the lock is broken.
4) Encrypting your hard drive is almost fool proof, that would stop me in my tracks.
Now, to say that a roommate would go as far as to use bolt cutters on your lock is kind of messed up, and you probably shouldn't live with someone like that anyway.
However, my main point wasn't about if someone would do that as a roommate, my point is, someone could do all of that if they wanted to.
bomberboysk
Active Member
Yeah, what im saying is that unless you encrypt hdd, then thats pretty much the best you can do. Unless...hdd in hardened steel fire safe with biometric access when your not there
tlarkin
VIP Member
Yeah, what im saying is that unless you encrypt hdd, then thats pretty much the best you can do. Unless...hdd in hardened steel fire safe with biometric access when your not there
Well you could secure the room it is in, which would be easier and not allow for physical access. That would be more viable. Then again I think just talking to your roommates is best.
PohTayToez
Active Member
It's silly to argue about this. Any security system to anything can be cracked/circumvented/disabled given the right tools and enough time. The point is that there are a a few simple things that you can do that would prevent nearly anyone from even trying to get it.