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An easy solution to laptop security?

post #1 of 29
6/27/06 at 6:51pm
Thread Starter 
A BIOS password can be easily bypassed by resetting the CMOS battery.

A Windows password can be easily bypassed by booting from a CD.

But, what about syskey? Is setting a system startup password using syskey the best local access control method to use to secure your laptop? Is there any way to crack it or is it more or less invincible?

Based on previous experience, I assume there must be some easy way to bypass it. But I haven't found one yet.

Thanks.
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post #2 of 29
6/28/06 at 12:41am
I think I just prefer to not leave mine lying around
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post #3 of 29
6/28/06 at 12:51am
if my babies go outside the house, i NEVER let them leave my site. I've came close to losing one of mine before. And i vowed to never let that happen again. But just to be sure, get theft insurance on your homeowners insurance just in case. Cause shit happens.
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post #4 of 29
6/28/06 at 1:31am
keep your laptop close to you always\ never leave it alone

whenever using it , using a lock utilizing the kensington lock hole: If using on table, lock to table leg, if using on lap, loop around thigh also will prevent people swiping it.

Try some software like lojackforlaptops (google it?) cant be wipped from formating.

Lock up laptop in a safe at night, or when your not using it (e.g. at home) [who has the time to steal a safe?]

thats all i could think of... or u could become a ninja and camouflage it with your crazy ninja skills
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post #5 of 29
6/28/06 at 2:04am
Thread Starter 
I know. I'm trying to prevent friends/family/random people from using my laptop in when I'm not there.
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post #6 of 29
6/28/06 at 2:16am
Nearly ultimate "snooping" security: encrypted hard drive (including the OS on the drive). Truecrypt will do this, so will Drivecrypt. Truecrypt is free and open source.
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post #7 of 29
6/28/06 at 2:32am
Quote:
Originally Posted by darksaber
I know. I'm trying to prevent friends/family/random people from using my laptop in when I'm not there.
for that i'd think a BIOS password would work fine. I meen theyd have to open the laptop to reset hte bios, and then you'd possibly know theyd done it. Most peple wouldn't bother.

I just keep mine with me all the time too. never let it out of my sight.
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post #8 of 29
6/28/06 at 3:00am
Do you realize how much harder it is to get the to CMOS battery on a laptop? Also, there is encryption that can be used with a NTFS hard drive in Windows XP. I have no clue about what a Syskey is though.

I might recomend these 2 guides for your reading pleasures though.
Ten steps to secure a PC
Preventing data theft from a stolen laptop
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post #9 of 29
6/28/06 at 10:47am
Obviously a password can be easily bipassed if a person wants to. But do you really think that a family member or friend is going to try and get around your password?
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post #10 of 29
6/28/06 at 2:09pm
Like a_a said, CMOS batteries are a pain to get at and even if you do, it's not garanteed to remove the bios password (e.g. it does not work in toshiba laptops). Unless your friends & family are pretty technologicaly inclined and desperate to get into your laptop I think the bios PW will be enough. I've never heard of that syskey though, but I'm going to check it out now.
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post #11 of 29
6/28/06 at 3:32pm
Just encrypt the porn folder on your laptop. No need to tear down a building to decorate a room, you know. Make sure to rename it to something inconspicous like 'Windows NT Format' or some such boring uninteresting name that doesn't create curiosity and you will be fine.
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post #12 of 29
6/28/06 at 6:47pm
just about everything can be hacked, but there are

1. kensington lock for some physical protection
2. preboot authentication requiring some pysical token (smartcard, USB thinggy or fingerprint recognition)
3. BIOS passwords for supervisor, user and harddisk (thus linking the HD to your machine's BIOS) and disabling boot from CD or USB
4. adequate policies on your machine (e.g. no normal logons as adminisistrator)
5. harddisk encription (hardware or software based)
6. disabling Autorun to avoid the obvious autorun hack (from CD or U3-type USB sticks)
7. adequate firewall and antivirus/spyware

But do you actually have that much to hide?

Just keep sensitive stuff (bank details) on a separateUSB stick (so it's easier for me to pcik it up when you leave your desk)

Drio
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post #13 of 29
6/28/06 at 8:15pm
A picture of Goatse on your desktop is likely to be the best deterrant of younger family members, and the much older ones as well.
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post #14 of 29
7/5/06 at 3:03am
Thread Starter 
I don't think anyone has actually answered my original question. In case you don't know how to set up what I'm talking about, here's a simple guide.
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post #15 of 29
7/5/06 at 4:00am
i miss my baby

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post #16 of 29
7/5/06 at 5:38am
It looks like Syskey just takes the Windows password hash file and lets you put it elsewhere (floppy, USB thumbdrive, etc) and provides for an additional password to decrypt the password hash file (what it's calling a "startup password"). For your purposes it's not going to get you anything over just a Windows password, someone can still boot from a CD and access everything on the drive. If you're really that worried that someone is determined enough to use your laptop that they will disassemble it to attempt to reset the BIOS password, no technological solution short of full filesystem encryption is going to help, and you'd be better off locking the laptop in a safe. A BIOS password and Windows password should be sufficient for you (with a nice short delay for the password-locked screensaver to kick in).
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post #17 of 29
7/5/06 at 6:53am
Quote:
Originally Posted by longlive Boo
i miss my baby

Confiscated in the latest police sting?
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post #18 of 29
7/5/06 at 6:55am
Quote:
Originally Posted by darksaber
I don't think anyone has actually answered my original question. In case you don't know how to set up what I'm talking about, here's a simple guide.
ELemur answered your question, I believe. I still contend the easiest, most secure solution would be whole-disk encryption. Probably the only way for someone to get around that would be either: a) rubber-hose cryptanalysis b) keylogger
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post #19 of 29
7/5/06 at 7:02am
Quote:
Originally Posted by longlive Boo
i miss my baby

I didn't know those things were automatic
By the ways, I love you.
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post #20 of 29
7/5/06 at 7:10am
A password is kinda useless if your laptop is physically stolen. Can anyone recommend a good safe? Needs to fit the laptop I ordered below. The dimentions are 1.85" H x 15.65" W x 11.75" D
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