Security For Computer?

[BChico]

Sounds like a good one for a notebook...

 

[MrBond]

Onvia.com had a wide variety of pc security devices, not sure about now. I've seen some cable locks that attach to the locking tab on the back of the case, but not all cases have those. Dell cases are excellent about that, they have a little switch that will tell you whenever the case has been opened upon POST. They also are fully lockable, with a masterlock or such. I know my Asus board supports an case intrusion detector, but I don't know where you'd buy one.

One thing you should find out is if your parent's homeowners insurance covers theft of your stuff while at school. If not, see if it can be added, it's worth it, especially with PC stuff.

 

[BChico]

Ill check on that thanks!

 

[NicColt]

I got 3 putters stolen once from my house but no more, I went to a hardware store and got one of those industrial wires and I mean industrial, it took the guy 10 minutes with a high pressure hydrolic cutter to cut the darn thing. I inserted it in the back of the pc looped it inside my desk and 400bls cab, put about 40 double U bolts to it. It took me 7 hours to undo the darn thing when I moved.

The only way you're going to steal this thing is if you spend the night or get a cutting torch if you get pass the building security.

 

[BChico]

LOL, Nice!

 

[Jvolm]

Use ZoneAlarm, it's an excellent firewall.

As for wake-on-lan, you can disable it in the BIOS. If that's not enough, crack open that case and pull the WOL cable out. Most NICs that support WOL have a little cable running from the card to the mobo. Just unplug it and viola!, no WOL to worry about.

Another way around the WOL feature is to turn your computer off by the power switch on the PS. Or, you can use the ultimate hacker-proof method, yank the cable out of the back.

The only problem with BIOS passwords, etc is that if you don't physically lock your case, there's always the "clear CMOS" jumper....

Hey, go ultra-high security...I second the weldbond.

 

[GaidenTSF]

Hi, I've been thinking of getting a firewall program for a while, and then I noticed discussion on zonealarm. I downloaded and installed, but then I noticed there is a "pro" version available. I am not connected to a lan, and I don't beleive I do anything exotic with my machine and its connection, so I'm wondering if I should consider investing in the pro version and getting the added features, or if the free version with its standard features would suffice for my needs. (though I must admit the standard is more attractive to stick with, being that its free and all )

 

[Woodie]

On firewalls...

LAN connectivity is not usually the issue...it's the WAN connectivity to the Internet that's the exposed part. If you're on dial-up, your risk is still present, but relatively low. If you're on any kind of high-speed connection, be it DSL, cable or dorm, you're at much higher risk.

It also depends on where you go, and what you do online. If you hang out w/ hackers/crackers/etc then you should definately get a f/w, because you're more likely to be seen as a potential target.

So, make your decision on ZA, based on what you think your exposure level is.

--Woodie

 

[Davegod75]

I go to UMD. Just make sure you lock your door all the time. Even if you just step out for 2 min or go down the hall. if you don't trust your roomate install w2k and lock your box down.
Install zonealarm if you wish.

 

[BChico]

Even though i have used win2k for awhile now, i have never tested this...what happens if you just restart what the comp is locked?

 

[Woodie]

Nothing. The workstation just reboots, and sits at the C-A-D to login message.

--Woodie

 

[astroview]

BChico,

I think you are overreacting a little bit, but then I don't know the atmosphere at your school. At my University people use each others comps once and a while, but we don't disrespect our fellow classmates as to install backdoors and other things on our friends' machines. It is a friendly, educational, intellectually curious, environment.

As for physical security, lock your door. That should take care of theft. Buy security cables if you feel like it after getting there,

I do recommend Win2k for your OS, and look at these security articles to secure your machine:


http://arstechnica.com/tweak/win2k/security/begin-1.html

http://www.gpick.net/sbr/security/w2ksecuritytips.htm


I goto Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, BTW

 

[BChico]

Thanks, how is the comp eng program at the case, i am looking at that school...?

 

[wyvrn]

I recently had to do this on a computer I built. Guy tried putting high density ram into a SS7 board that did not support it. Now he wants to reformat and put Win98 on the machine so he can play games. I enabled bios password, gave him user rights only in Win2k, installed zone alarm and an antivirus (he installed cable modem without asking me), and disabled booting from cdrom and floppy drive in BIOS. I haven't found any case locks that would hold him (he is a construction science major and can take anything apart, especially those flimsy case locks).

Anybody got any really good ideas for keeping someone from removing the side covers? I figured I would JB Weld the one on the mobo side, but the other needs to be able to be opened from time to time for maintenance.

 

[astroview]

BChico

I would not recommend CWRU's Comp. Sci. or Eng. program, a lot of our good profs have left in the past from that program. EE is better, but our best are ME, Biomedical Eng, and Chem. E.

Most of my friends in Comp. Sci. and Eng. did not like their classes their Freshman and Sophmore years, but the program gets better in the Junior and Senior years I am told.

The Arts and Sciences are pretty good too, I am a history major and I like my department.

 

[Woodie]

for wvyrn:

If he has physical access to the computer--you can't keep him out. Period. Why don't you try to renogiate the terms of his computer usage, and your support for it?

Why do you have to lock him out? Who does the computer belong to? And why is the owner allowing this person to use the computer? If it's his own, why do you care if he blows it up? Can you refuse to help him out?

Ohhhh. I see. It's your dad.-----------------j/k

--Woodie

 

[Palpatine]

If you really want to lock down your pc, you could use Windows Policy Editor (poledit). You can restrict everything from everyone except you. But be careful!! Because it's easy to accidentally lock yourself out as well. We use this on some of our stations at work.

 

[wyvrn]

Woodie


He is my brother in law, I bought and built the computer for his sister to use. However he thinks it is his property and he can do whatever he wants. I have talked to him about it, but he is macho man and does not listen He also builds houses and like I said, a puny lock isn't going to stop him. I do not want to remove the computer because I want his sister to have access to one during summer school. Eventually she will be getting a laptop, but in the meantime this is the only access she has to a computer and printer.

So you have any useful ideas?

 

[Woodie]

Tough one. What does his sister say about it? Is she old enough to say anything to her brother...and *you* paid for it. Hmmmm.

No useful answer except...have her get a laptop. Then she can take it with her.

Use the computers at the library? Use yours? Take it back, and she can use it at your place?

Too many family dynamics going on. The solution won't be a technological one. No matter what you do, he'll be ego-bound to get around it, so the usual steps of making it difficult and a hassle for him to do, won't deter him. Not sure you want to get into a "pissing match" with him though.

You could get a copy of ghost, and image the machine. That way you could rebuild it every night in about 10 minutes, back to the locked down state. At least that would make it easy for you, and more difficult for him.

--Woodie

 

[wyvrn]

That is pretty much what I thought. The family dynamics are really what are holding me back, otherwise I would just tell him off.

Trying to talk her older sister into giving up her laptop so I don't have to mess with it.

 

[BChico]

Thanks for the info astroview...

 

[astroview]

no problem, its not a party school also FYI...

a lot of people are asocial here, mainly because of the engineering I figure, b/c a lot of nerds are here