Snarkpit Forum Index » General Banter » Windows XP security/paranoia
Windows XP security/paranoia
1
2 next page »
Post Reply
Quote
 Re: Windows XP security/paranoia
Posted by Gollum on Thu Mar 4th at 3:14pm 2004

I recently discovered one of my friends searching on my computer for private information about me (basically he was snooping for documents relating to my love life, and he managed to find some). The incident ended with me returning to my room and pulling out the power cord.

Now, I can of course just stop this by never letting anyone (or certain people) use my computer. However, I'd rather just limit their access.

I'm running XP home; it seems that the security options for user accounts are not very powerful. What I'd like to do is have the ability to completely block access to large parts of my computer (for example, to an entire drive). But it seems that the only files I can make private are those that reside in my user account.

On a related note, I'd quite like to get hold of those old "paranoia" features from Tweak UI, back when it used to be a great program. Unfortunately the XP version seems to lack these functions (as well as a lot of other ones).

So, any tech-gurus care to enlighten me?





Quote
 Re: Windows XP security/paranoia
Posted by 7dk2h4md720ih on Thu Mar 4th at 3:40pm 2004

I'll look for a program for you, but in the meantime give that supposed friend a good kicking. [addsig]



Quote
 Re: Windows XP security/paranoia
Posted by 7dk2h4md720ih on Thu Mar 4th at 3:43pm 2004

Hopefully one of the programs in this list is what you're looking for.

http://www.softheap.com/

They're all shareware though so you'll need a serial. [addsig]



Quote
 Re: Windows XP security/paranoia
Posted by Orpheus on Thu Mar 4th at 3:46pm 2004

here at home i have no issues, but i thought XP had a feature to password folders???

worse case scenario, zip them in a passworded zip file..

[addsig]



Quote
 Re: Windows XP security/paranoia
Posted by 7dk2h4md720ih on Thu Mar 4th at 3:49pm 2004

Take a look at Tweak Xp pro if you've the time

http://www.totalidea.com/frameset-products.htm

There's a few good features regarding privacy in that too. I think it lets you hide a disk drive from explorer and it also limits access to control panel etc. The trial of the program only gives you 30 executions, but if you take your time the first time you open it and set everything up the way you want, you should never have to open it again. [addsig]



Quote
 Re: Windows XP security/paranoia
Posted by Orpheus on Thu Mar 4th at 3:53pm 2004

mike, try THIS page, or more specifically if you like.. THIS

the second link seems exactly what you need, and its free..

[addsig]



Quote
 Re: Windows XP security/paranoia
Posted by 7dk2h4md720ih on Thu Mar 4th at 4:11pm 2004

I'm downloading that now. I'll let you know if it's any good. [addsig]



Quote
 Re: Windows XP security/paranoia
Posted by 7dk2h4md720ih on Thu Mar 4th at 4:15pm 2004

Cryptainer will only allow you to encrypt 10 megs of stuff per folder, it's a limitation of the free version. [addsig]



Quote
 Re: Windows XP security/paranoia
Posted by Leperous on Thu Mar 4th at 4:16pm 2004

You could just keep documents like that hidden away with your pr0n, where even you won't be able to find it again if you should forget. Or keep your door locked.



Quote
 Re: Windows XP security/paranoia
Posted by Tracer Bullet on Thu Mar 4th at 4:30pm 2004

I've thought on this issue from time to time. my solution is complex/obscure file paths. it seems incredibly silly that you cannot put a password on folders though. [addsig]



Quote
 Re: Windows XP security/paranoia
Posted by Gollum on Thu Mar 4th at 4:31pm 2004

Thanks for the linkage, guys I will check out what's on offer...

? posted by Leperous

You could just keep documents like that hidden away with your pr0n, where even you won't be able to find it again if you should forget. Or keep your door locked.

Well one solution is simply to be more organised with my filing - if I put all sensitive files under my user, then other users will not be able to access them.

And at least my pr0n is password-protected





Quote
 Re: Windows XP security/paranoia
Posted by 7dk2h4md720ih on Thu Mar 4th at 4:33pm 2004

? quote:
And at least my pr0n is password-protected


Now now Mike, sharing is caring. [addsig]



Quote
 Re: Windows XP security/paranoia
Posted by Orpheus on Thu Mar 4th at 4:50pm 2004

hope something i posted helps.. i am not real knowledgeable on such things.. but i do recommend www.download.com for anything you might need.. [addsig]



Quote
 Re: Windows XP security/paranoia
Posted by matt on Thu Mar 4th at 5:31pm 2004

I'm the only person who uses my computer, so the only person I have to fear is.. me...

? posted by Orpheus
hope something i posted helps.. i am not real knowledgeable on such things.. but i do recommend www.download.com for anything you might need..

Downloads.com used to be great, but latly its really lost something. I used to be able to get all the files I needed from it, but now all it seems to be is full of broken links.

[addsig]



Quote
 Re: Windows XP security/paranoia
Posted by Forceflow on Thu Mar 4th at 5:37pm 2004

Hey ... it's not that difficult guys.

Create an admin account for you on your xp system, put your files somewhere in my documents, right-click, disabel sharing, put a password on you account.

Other accounts will not be able to view your documents.

(I'm using XP Home too, SP1 ... works great.)

And TweakUI for XP is still available in the XP powertoys download:

Info: http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/downloads/powertoys.asp

TweakUI Download: http://download.microsoft.com/download/f/c/a/fca6767b-9ed9-45a6-b352-839afb2a2679/TweakUiPowertoySetup.exe





Quote
 Re: Windows XP security/paranoia
Posted by Gollum on Thu Mar 4th at 5:48pm 2004

That is probably what I will end up doing, but I was inquiring about more versatile methods.

I know that tweakUI is still available for XP - I've got it! But the XP version lacks many of the old features.





Quote
 Re: Windows XP security/paranoia
Posted by Crono on Thu Mar 4th at 6:49pm 2004

It sucks that more 'saftey' features aren't built into Windows by deafault. "Why oh why would you ever want to protect your computer ??"

Anyway, I was going to suggest something along the lines of what force said, however, not exactly.

If you make a user on your computer which is NOT an Admin, you can make it so your friend can ONLY use that user, hell you can make it so they can't save anything short of intenet files (because its automatic, and the Temp directories are sort of backdoors through Windows security).

I'd suggest locking your computer all together by putting a password on it, in which you wouldn't even remember so you have it written down in a place only you know of, or something like that.

If you got REALLY paranoid, you can put a password on you BIOS so the moment you turn on the computer you have to put a password in, but I don't suggest that one.

If you just make a non admin user, and keep a password on all your other users (Meaning log specifically in to the user: Administrator and change the password for it as well, because usually it's nothing, and in which case your friend could easily log you out and access everything that way.)

Yeah, but Windows would be much better (in my opinion) if it has simple read, write flags. it has em for writting, but not really reading. You shouldn't have to move your whole freakin' drive to a zip file (And yes, Orph is technically right, that will work, but think about the hassle of reading anything inside of it).

Creating a new user would be easiest. Oh, I just looked it up, and it seems if you do create a 'Limited' user account, they can only access files they've created under that user, and all shared documents. Mess around with it until your paranoia goes away [addsig]



Quote
 Re: Windows XP security/paranoia
Posted by OtZman on Thu Mar 4th at 9:04pm 2004

There is a way to lock folders using DOS:

Start -> Run -> cmd

then type:

ren C:\...\[filename] [new filename].{2559a1f2-21d7-11d4-bdaf-00c04f60b9f0}

...this will lock the folder. To unlock it, simply type:

ren C:\...\[filename].{2559a1f2-21d7-11d4-bdaf-00c04f60b9f0} [new name]

This is not very good security as your pal can unlock the folder quite easily if he knows how to do. If he doesn't, this might be enough.

[addsig]



Quote
 Re: Windows XP security/paranoia
Posted by Leperous on Thu Mar 4th at 9:24pm 2004

Does it have to be that particular code?



Quote
 Re: Windows XP security/paranoia
Posted by OtZman on Thu Mar 4th at 9:34pm 2004

Yup. The folder symbol turns into a padlock. [addsig]




1
2 next page »
Post Reply