ju
Sun Apr 20 03:24:18 PDT 2008
A proper BIOS lock is tied to the Mother Board and Hard Drive. Removing
the CMOS battery or BIOS chip will effectively render the computer a
paper weight.
ju.c
"Shenan Stanley" <newshelper@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:eCk1h%23VoIHA.2160@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
> <excess line spacing removed>
> Tom wrote:
>> I am running Windows XP Home. I have a standalone laptop, no
>> network. As of now, anyone can start my computer and get it.
>> Windows XP Home has No login security! I cannot stop anyone
>> from getting into my computer. I looked at www.download.com
>> and could not find it.
>>
>> Is there any security software that prompts for a password for
>> login OR AT BOOT?
>>
>> Also - access security software for memory sticks!!!
>
> Shenan Stanley wrote:
>> Windows XP Home *has* logon security - you are just choosing not to
>> utilize it. I have *no idea* why you would go to
>> "www.download.com" to look for Windows XP Home Logon Security. heh
>>
>> Ensure every user on your computer *has* a password assigned to the
>> account. This will include the built in "administrator" user - for
>> which (being that you have Windows XP Home Edition) you need to
>> boot into Safe Mode, log in as the user "administrator" (which
>> probably has no password) and assign one to that user there.
>>
>> - Open the Control Panel
>> - Select User Accounts
>> - Select your own user account
>> - Select "Assign Password" (If you already have a password
>> assigned, only "Change Password" will be available and you can
>> stop this part now.)
>> - Go through the steps to assign a password to the account - make
>> sure it is one you can remember. Here are some tips on a 'strong'
>> password:
>>
>> Passwords should contain at least six characters, and the character
>> string should contain at least three of these four character types:
>> - uppercase letters
>> - lowercase letters
>> - numerals
>> - nonalphanumeric characters (e.g., *, %, &, !, :)
>>
>> Passwords should not contain your name/username.
>> Passwords should be unique to you and easy to remember.
>>
>> One method many people are using today is to make up a phrase that
>> describes a point in their life and then turning that phrase into
>> their password by using only certain letters out of each word
>> in that phrase. It's much better than using your birthday
>> month/year or your anniversary in a pure sense. For
>> example, let's say my phrase is:
>> 'Great new job in November 2007'
>> I could come up with this password from that:
>> 'Gr8n3wj0bNOV2007'
>>
>> After making sure all users now *have* a password assigned to them
>> - make sure Windows XP knows you want users to have to enter them.
>> Being Windows XP Home and since you have only one user - Windows XP
>> could just have decided to let you in (there's only one user
>> available in normal mode - what are you going to choose from?) You
>> need to tell it you want it to ask for your password.
>>
>> - Click the Start button
>> - On the Start menu click Run
>> - In the Run dialogue box type ?control userpasswords2? (without
>> the quotes) and press OK
>> - The User Account properties window will now appear
>> - Ensure there is a check mark next to the ?users must enter a user
>> name and password to use this computer? option
>> - Click Apply and/or click OK.
>>
>> Go through the following 'checklist' Microsoft has available for
>> reaching some base level of security:
>>
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/archive/security/chklist/xpcl.mspx
>>
>> If you wish to set a boot-up password (prior to even being able to
>> load the operating system - so the hardware itself asks for a
>> password) - you can most likely do this through your system BIOS.
>> This is *not* a function of your operating system - this is a
>> function of the hardware and you must follow the directions given
>> by your user manual on how to get into the system BIOS (usually a
>> key like F1, F2, DEL, etc - prior to any OS starting to load at
>> power-on) and (if possible with yout particular computer) how to
>> assign a boot password.
>> As for security for data you store on a memory stick, two things:
>>
>> 1) Don't store critical or private data on a memory stick that you
>> carry around with you freely.
>> 2) Whether or not you break #1, Encrypt any and all data you store
>> on a memory stick.
>>
>> For #2 - TrueCrypt is a good solution, IMHO.
>>
>> Search using Google!
>>
http://www.google.com/
>> (How-to:
http://www.google.com/intl/en/help/basics.html )
>
> ju.c wrote:
>> User Accounts can easily be bypassed. Use a BIOS lock.
>
> Thanks for the reiteration...
>
> BTW - since it is a laptop and the whole thing will likely be taken
> (thus the hacker will have unlimited physical access) the BIOS
> password will also do little to protect your data. The only thing
> that probably will is Encryption (being Windows XP Home - TrueCrypt is
> a choice you could make to encrypt your entire system drive...)
>
> --
> Shenan Stanley
> MS-MVP
> --
> How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
>
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html
>