v119l94u@ubvmsd.cc.buffalo.edu (Dennis G Crawford) (12/17/90)
I am currently looking for something that will protect my system from
unwanted persons... Since I don't have a secure room to put my computer in,
any of my roommates can use my computer at will.. I have a
'device=C:\password.sys' protection in my config.sys.. but, I need something
that will do a better job... (Plus, I lost the file to edit my password...!)
ANY information would be appreciated
)_Dennis_(
----
... D-Man! -=- WRUB Amherst 640AM -=- Dennis G. Crawford -=- SUNY Buffalo .
.. V119L94U@UBVMS.CC.BUFFALO.EDU -=- CRAWFORD@AUTARCH.ACSU.BUFFALO.EDU ..
. UUNET!UBVMSC.CC.BUFFALO.EDU!V119L94U@UUNET.UU.NET -=- DGCRAWF@UMASS ...
How could something this simple turn into something this serious ....valley@uchicago (Doug Dougherty) (12/17/90)
v119l94u@ubvmsd.cc.buffalo.edu (Dennis G Crawford) writes: > I am currently looking for something that will protect my system from >unwanted persons... Since I don't have a secure room to put my computer in, >any of my roommates can use my computer at will.. I have a >'device=C:\password.sys' protection in my config.sys.. but, I need something >that will do a better job... (Plus, I lost the file to edit my password...!) >ANY information would be appreciated Check out PC Valut (nee PC-LOCK) from Johnson Computer Systems, Newport News, VA (I don't have their phone # handy, but they are in the book). This is commerical ware (approx $35), but it is a good product.
julien@incal.inria.fr (Julien Maisonneuve) (12/18/90)
I remember having seen something called ADM that was a really efficient protection system. It was released by American Mitac, I couldn't figure out how exactly. How it worked : It replaced your boot sector with one of its own. The program would ask you to enter a username and password before starting the system. A maintenance program allowed you to give a user a selective access to the disk's partitions (so that user 1 could only access partition 1 and 2 for example), and to give none, read or read/write access. I think it crypted the partition table to handle this. Never noticed any problem with it though. Julien.
daj@reef.cis.ufl.edu (David A. Johns) (12/18/90)
In article <51913@eerie.acsu.Buffalo.EDU> v119l94u@ubvmsd.cc.buffalo.edu writes:
#
# I am currently looking for something that will protect my system from
# unwanted persons... Since I don't have a secure room to put my computer in,
# any of my roommates can use my computer at will.. I have a
# 'device=C:\password.sys' protection in my config.sys.. but, I need something
# that will do a better job... (Plus, I lost the file to edit my password...!)
#
# ANY information would be appreciated
#
# )_Dennis_(
# ----
# ... D-Man! -=- WRUB Amherst 640AM -=- Dennis G. Crawford -=- SUNY Buffalo .
# .. V119L94U@UBVMS.CC.BUFFALO.EDU -=- CRAWFORD@AUTARCH.ACSU.BUFFALO.EDU ..
# . UUNET!UBVMSC.CC.BUFFALO.EDU!V119L94U@UUNET.UU.NET -=- DGCRAWF@UMASS ...
# How could something this simple turn into something this serious ....
How about unplugging the keyboard and locking it in a closet?v119l94u@ubvmsd.cc.buffalo.edu (Dennis G Crawford) (12/19/90)
In article <25986@uflorida.cis.ufl.EDU>, daj@reef.cis.ufl.edu (David A. Johns) writes... >In article <51913@eerie.acsu.Buffalo.EDU> v119l94u@ubvmsd.cc.buffalo.edu writes: [...original article deleted...] >How about unplugging the keyboard and locking it in a closet? How about NOT. We don't have locking closets in dorms.. sorry! That would be a good answer.. but, NOT! Also, since there's a lot of people with IBM's on the floor.. it's easy to get a keyboard. (and, primarily it's THEM that i want to keep out!) )_Dennis_( ---- //.=.\\ CRAWFORD@AUTARCH.ACSU.BUFFALO.EDU + DGCRAWFO@SUNRISE.ACS.SYR.EDU //.=.\\ ...... V119L94U@UBVMS.CC.BUFFALO.EDU + WRUB 640am + SUNY--Buffalo ....... ...... The flames are all gone -- but the pain lingers on. ....... \\.=.//-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=->Dennis G. Crawford<-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-\\.=.//
herrickd@iccgcc.decnet.ab.com (daniel lance herrick) (12/21/90)
In article <25986@uflorida.cis.ufl.EDU>, daj@reef.cis.ufl.edu (David A. Johns) writes: > In article <51913@eerie.acsu.Buffalo.EDU> v119l94u@ubvmsd.cc.buffalo.edu writes: > # > # I am currently looking for something that will protect my system from > # unwanted persons... Since I don't have a secure room to put my computer in, > # any of my roommates can use my computer at will.. I have a > # 'device=C:\password.sys' protection in my config.sys.. but, I need something > # that will do a better job... (Plus, I lost the file to edit my password...!) > > How about unplugging the keyboard and locking it in a closet? It's not at all difficult to bring along a spare keyboard when one is bent on doing mischief. dan herrick herrickd@iccgcc.decnet.ab.com
epames@eos.ericsson.se (Michael Salmon) (12/21/90)
In article <51913@eerie.acsu.Buffalo.EDU> v119l94u@ubvmsd.cc.buffalo.edu writes: > > I am currently looking for something that will protect my system from >unwanted persons... Since I don't have a secure room to put my computer in, >any of my roommates can use my computer at will.. I have a >'device=C:\password.sys' protection in my config.sys.. but, I need something >that will do a better job... (Plus, I lost the file to edit my password...!) Sorry to say this but you can't protect your system with software, all someone needs to do is bring along a floppy and boot from that. You need hardware or bios support to prevent access. Perhaps you could use a key switch in the power or keyboard. Michael Salmon L.M.Ericsson Stockholm
system@syzzle.UUCP (SYSTEM 0PERATOR) (12/23/90)
epames@eos.ericsson.se (Michael Salmon) writes: > In article <51913@eerie.acsu.Buffalo.EDU> v119l94u@ubvmsd.cc.buffalo.edu writ > > > > I am currently looking for something that will protect my system from > >unwanted persons... Since I don't have a secure room to put my computer in, > > Sorry to say this but you can't protect your system with software, all > someone needs to do is bring along a floppy and boot from that. You need > hardware or bios support to prevent access. Perhaps you could use a key > switch in the power or keyboard. There is a program out called fastlock (shareware) which replaces the boot sector of a hard disk, and even if booted from floppy, the hard disk cannot be accessed! I since it changes the boot sector, dos gives an error when trying to access the hard disk (I believe it says Invalid Boot Sector, or Invalid Media Type) But it does work. +---------------------------------+----------------------------+ |Al Oomens awol@syzzle.UUCP | Simplicity is the ultimate | | uunet!ddsw1!infopls!syzzle!awol | form of sophistication! | +---------------------------------+----------------------------+
sweh@tharr.UUCP (Stephen Harris) (12/25/90)
In article <1990Dec21.094412.5704@ericsson.se> epames@eos.ericsson.se writes: >In article <51913@eerie.acsu.Buffalo.EDU> v119l94u@ubvmsd.cc.buffalo.edu writes: !> !> I am currently looking for something that will protect my system from !>unwanted persons... Since I don't have a secure room to put my computer in, !>any of my roommates can use my computer at will.. I have a !>'device=C:\password.sys' protection in my config.sys.. but, I need something !>that will do a better job... (Plus, I lost the file to edit my password...!) ! !Sorry to say this but you can't protect your system with software, all !someone needs to do is bring along a floppy and boot from that. You need !hardware or bios support to prevent access. Perhaps you could use a key !switch in the power or keyboard. ! !Michael Salmon !L.M.Ericsson !Stockholm Essentially true, but with some clever software you can mangle your hard disk partition table so that if you boot from floppy your hard disk is not recognisable unless you boot from hard disk and enter correct password. Look at PCLOCK, available from SIMTEL20 -- Stephen Harris Disclaimer: me have an opinion? | Email: ..!ukc!axion!tharr!sweh What an idea! | sweh%tharr.uucp@uk.co.bt.axion Wanted: humour transplant | tharr!sweh@uk.ac.ukc <-- tharr *free* public access to Usenet in the UK 0234 261804 -->
lev@suned1.Nswses.Navy.MIL (Lloyd E Vancil) (01/03/91)
In article <mFamu5w163w@syzzle.UUCP> system@syzzle.UUCP (SYSTEM 0PERATOR) writes: > There is a program out called fastlock (shareware) which replaces the >boot sector of a hard disk, and even if booted from floppy, the hard >disk cannot be accessed! I since it changes the boot sector, dos >gives an error when trying to access the hard disk (I believe it says >Invalid Boot Sector, or Invalid Media Type) But it does work. So dick dastardly comes in keyboard in one hand and dos disk in the other, Boots your machine from his dos disk and types FORMAT C: Get some physical security. A real keyswitch, and some way to keep the bloody thing on the desk would be good. L. -- * suned1!lev@elroy.JPL.Nasa.Gov sun!suntzu!suned1!lev . lev@suned1.nswses.navy.mil + . + * S.T.A.R.S.! The revolution has begun! * My employer has no opinions. These are mine!
system@syzzle.UUCP (SYSTEM 0PERATOR) (01/05/91)
lev@suned1.Nswses.Navy.MIL (Lloyd E Vancil) writes: > In article <mFamu5w163w@syzzle.UUCP> system@syzzle.UUCP (SYSTEM 0PERATOR) wri > > There is a program out called fastlock (shareware) which replaces the > >boot sector of a hard disk, and even if booted from floppy, the hard > >disk cannot be accessed! I since it changes the boot sector, dos > >gives an error when trying to access the hard disk (I believe it says > >Invalid Boot Sector, or Invalid Media Type) But it does work. > > So dick dastardly comes in keyboard in one hand and dos disk in the other, > Boots your machine from his dos disk and types FORMAT C: Nope, that won't work. It would take a low level format, or at least maybe Fdisk. I think that even if you have a key lock, someone named dick dastardly would be able to pick the lock, or at least jumper it (since it's really only a key switch), and then access your data! If keeping data private is the main concern, then fastlock would be a better choice. If you want to prevent vandalism, then a key switch, or locked cabinet etc.
valley@uchicago (Doug Dougherty) (01/07/91)
lev@suned1.Nswses.Navy.MIL (Lloyd E Vancil) writes: >In article <mFamu5w163w@syzzle.UUCP> system@syzzle.UUCP (SYSTEM 0PERATOR) writes: >> There is a program out called fastlock (shareware) which replaces the >>boot sector of a hard disk, and even if booted from floppy, the hard >>disk cannot be accessed! I since it changes the boot sector, dos >>gives an error when trying to access the hard disk (I believe it says >>Invalid Boot Sector, or Invalid Media Type) But it does work. >So dick dastardly comes in keyboard in one hand and dos disk in the other, >Boots your machine from his dos disk and types FORMAT C: Actually, D.D. (coincidentally, my initials) would have to use FDISK. But the point is not so much to protect the machine as to protect the data. They can have the machine, but they can only use the hard disk by deleting all of your stuff. Or, to put it another way, at least if you've been violated, you will know that it has occurred.
ccfac@nt.sait.edu.au (01/11/91)
In article <1990Dec21.094412.5704@ericsson.se>, epames@eos.ericsson.se (Michael Salmon) writes: > In article <51913@eerie.acsu.Buffalo.EDU> v119l94u@ubvmsd.cc.buffalo.edu writes: >> >> I am currently looking for something that will protect my system from >>unwanted persons... Since I don't have a secure room to put my computer in, >>any of my roommates can use my computer at will.. I have a >>'device=C:\password.sys' protection in my config.sys.. but, I need something >>that will do a better job... (Plus, I lost the file to edit my password...!) > > Sorry to say this but you can't protect your system with software, all > someone needs to do is bring along a floppy and boot from that. You need > hardware or bios support to prevent access. Perhaps you could use a key > switch in the power or keyboard. > > Michael Salmon > L.M.Ericsson > Stockholm There is a program available as a trial pack called PCLOCK21 and it is one great program. The registered version is even better! It installs itself as a device driver. And yes, password is need at boot up, but the nice thing is that when you try and boot from a floppy, the user will not be able to see drive C. No access to hard disk! Unless booted from hard drive and entered the password correctly. There's another one as well which does very similar thing, but can't remember the name. Should be able to find the zip file in SIMTEL-20 under sysutl directory. Cheers Francis Chan -- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CCFAC@SAIT.EDU.AU Francis Chan University of South Australia -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
patrick@blister.Solbourne.COM (Patrick Bowman) (01/12/91)
In article <27975.278c945d@nt.sait.edu.au> ccfac@nt.sait.edu.au writes: >In article <1990Dec21.094412.5704@ericsson.se>, epames@eos.ericsson.se (Michael Salmon) writes: >> In article <51913@eerie.acsu.Buffalo.EDU> v119l94u@ubvmsd.cc.buffalo.edu writes: >>> >>> I am currently looking for something that will protect my system from >>>unwanted persons... Sorry, I'm not replying to the original article, but this may be of interest nonetheless. A company I have dealt with sellsl something called "PC-Password" or something like that. It's about $70 (CDN, which would be about $60US), and it's a card that you stick in your PC which requires you to put in a password before it will boot. They're in Canada, which will limit their usefulness to someone in Australia, but anyway, their number is 1-416-503-3335 Hope this helps.
david@thor.INS.CWRU.Edu (David Nerenberg) (01/16/91)
> >So dick dastardly comes in keyboard in one hand and dos disk in the other, >Boots your machine from his dos disk and types FORMAT C: > >Get some physical security. A real keyswitch, and some way to keep the bloody >thing on the desk would be good. >L. OK, I am not sure this is the place or not, but since you bring up some form of physical security... I have a card in my PC that is a password/cop card. It protects the machine with a password, at boot up. This is regardless of how the machine is desired to be booted, after the RAM self tests, you are prompted for a password. The only way to not enter the password would be to pull the computer apart and remove the card. In my machne, I have hex type screws instead of regular screws, but, better than that, I have security cables. The way the cable is installed, there is no way to get at the screws without the key to the lock of the security cable. Back to the card... It also has this cop feature. If my computer is ever stolen, it will usually end up in some warehouse somewhere, without monitor and keyboard attached. This is when most computers are recovered, but how are the police to determine who this computer belonged to when they are faced with a warehouse full? This is the cop feature. I have registered my computer, and when you power up the computer without the keyboard attached, a series of tones is played. This is played over an ordinary telephone to the main office, where a computer decodes the tones as a unique serial number! I think this is neat. Well, if anyone is interested, I can put you in touch with the people who designed, built, and programmed the card. I believe it is also available without the cop feature, ie just a password card, just like real IBM and some BIOS password protections. Dave -- david@po.cwru.edu * Eagle * David Nerenberg 73107,177 Compuserve * Computers * Information Network Services NY: H-516-751-6344 * Electronics * Case Western Reserve University W-516-751-8111 * Sound & Stage * W-216-368-2982 H-216-754-2063
doron@oboe.cs.cornell.edu (Leor Doron) (01/23/91)
In article <1991Jan16.195045.8126@chinet.chi.il.us> ignatz@chinet.chi.il.us (Dave Ihnat) writes: >If you're looking at security systems, Lattice sells a package called >Secret Disk. This works both on stand-alone and networked systems, and >provides two levels of encryption (proprietary fast, and DES.) It works >by allocating a portion of the hard disk (or, if your needs are modest, I >suppose you could do a floppy; there's no restriction per se) as a hidden >file. This file is a virtual disk, complete with FAT and directory, and >is fully encrypted and password protected. ... >Finally, the last time I checked it was around $80, which isn't unreasonable. >This may have changed, since that was over a year ago, however. For not much more than that (~ $100 mail order), the Norton Utilities 5.0 gives you pretty much the same thing, plus a boatload of other useful stuff. Worth checking out, esp. if you don't already have a similar mega-utils package (e.g. Mace, PC Tools, etc.). --Lee ==doron@cs.cornell.edu========================================================= = ".Sig! .Sig a .sog! .Sig it loud; .sig it .strog!" = ========= -- Karen Carpenter with a head cold =================================
hartnegg@sun1.ruf.uni-freiburg.de (Klaus Hartnegg) (01/25/91)
doron@oboe.cs.cornell.edu (Leor Doron) writes: >For not much more than that (~ $100 mail order), the Norton Utilities 5.0 >gives you pretty much the same thing, plus a boatload of other useful stuff. >Worth checking out, esp. if you don't already have a similar mega-utils package This was not contained in my copy of the utilities. I guess this is the program they referred to when they wrote `international version - does not contain encryption'. Does anybody know how to get a program that works like DISKREET (bot does not necessarily use DES) in Europe? -- --------------------------------------------------------------- Klaus Hartnegg, Kleist-Str. 7, D-7835 Teningen, Germany Bitnet : HAKL@DFRRUF1, Internet : HAKL@ibm.ruf.uni-freiburg.de X.400 : G=klaus;S=hartnegg;OU=ibm;OU=ruf;P=uni-freiburg;A=dbp;C=de