Re: I need to password protect my pc at startup



"Kat" <kat@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:OIUI2Fh0IHA.2188@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

I have XP Home on my PC at work. I need to protect my computer so NO ONE
else can get on to it. I know someone has been coming into the office
after
hours and on weekends and reading my emails and looking at files.
Personal
emails have been read and then marked unread but when I click them
typically
the person sending has "send a receipt" when opening emails and on Mondays
I'm not getting that message if I reply to an email and the sender again
replies then I do get that. Also when looking at properties on files it
will say when it was last accessed and it will be a time I was not at
work.
So...

How do I make my computer secure?

1. Change all your passwords now, in case compromised.
2. Most PCs let you set a BIOS password that must be
entered before Windows starts. If you have no motherboard
manual, interrupt the reboot process (probably either DELete
or F8 key) and inspect BIOS menus.
3. Win98 lets you encrypt selected files, explained via
/ start / help / ENCRYPT.
4. You could use a portable flashdrive to carry ultra-sensitive
info on your person, i.e. never leave secret data files in the desktop.
5. There are plenty of books about PC security. If connected to
the Internet, this must be made secure as well.
6. Because you may believe your system has been read by
some unauthorised person, you must consider whether new
security measures would tip him off that his penetration is
known. You may wish to leave things as they are, and
set some sort of trap to catch him in flagrante dilecto.

--
Don Phillipson
Carlsbad Springs
(Ottawa, Canada)



.



Relevant Pages

  • Re: Administrator Password Protection
    ... There is no security without physical security. ... > floppy with adequate software and to take over the PC. ... > I tried with a BIOS password and/or with BIOS "boot on floppy" ... > But it is quite easy to get the BIOS password with adequate software ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.security_admin)
  • Re: Friend logging onto my comp
    ... lock your computer where your roommate can't get at it or find another ... > physical security. ... >>I would enable BIOS password protection. ...
    (microsoft.public.security)
  • Re: Passwordless root access
    ... I am considering setting up public linux machines. ... and in that scenario this could be a serious security issue. ... want to set a BIOS password, so your last option is to secure the case. ... The way to patch this *is* restricting physical access. ...
    (comp.os.linux.misc)
  • Re: Password Protecting BIOS, Hard Drive, Etc
    ... Dell Laptops are among the best for BIOS password security, however, there is ALWAYS a way in. ... A BIOS password is an easy method of securing a Laptop, ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.general)
  • Re: protect to crack windows2000 admin password
    ... Messing with the SAM in that way is also an attack requiring physical ... The bios password doesn't really give any additional security ... >> cracking the administrator password by using ERD command or other utility ...
    (microsoft.public.win2000.security)

Loading