Clan x86

Technical (Development, Security, etc.) => General Security Information => Topic started by: Distant.Echo on October 24, 2005, 11:25:44 am

Title: Computer usage security.
Post by: Distant.Echo on October 24, 2005, 11:25:44 am
For professional users only..

Windows + R -> gpedit.msc

Customize what a user can and cannot access. I assume you can turn a limited account into an Administrative account and turn things on or off (i.e. Disable right-click) and then make the account limited again. Very nice feature. If you have Media Center OS, this feature will work for you as well.

If you have Windows XP Home -> www.winguides.com will provide a registry editor with a decent GUI for you to use.
Title: Re: Computer usage security.
Post by: MyndFyre on October 24, 2005, 11:39:18 am
Group Policy editor isn't THAT special (but it is handy ;))
Title: Re: Computer usage security.
Post by: Distant.Echo on October 24, 2005, 11:56:00 am
It is when you work at Circuit City.
We have an Administrative account (Circuit City, passworded) and a Limited (Customer). Little kids still feel the need to put porn pictures up and things of that nature..So, editing what they can and cannot do is very helpful.
Title: Re: Computer usage security.
Post by: Joe on October 25, 2005, 08:43:09 am
It is when you work at Circuit City.
We have an Administrative account (Circuit City, passworded) and a Limited (Customer). Little kids still feel the need to put porn pictures up and things of that nature..So, editing what they can and cannot do is very helpful.
LOL.
Title: Re: Computer usage security.
Post by: iago on October 25, 2005, 09:51:33 am
I was wandering around Best Buy a couple months ago, when I happened upon a display computer that was locked, "Please enter password for Administrator".  I had a stroke of genius, and typed "bestbuy".  Sure enough, success.  How lame are they? :)
Title: Re: Computer usage security.
Post by: Joe on October 25, 2005, 02:37:33 pm
I was wandering around Best Buy a couple months ago, when I happened upon a display computer that was locked, "Please enter password for Administrator". I had a stroke of genius, and typed "bestbuy". Sure enough, success. How lame are they? :)
Do the famous kismet drive by. =)
Title: Re: Computer usage security.
Post by: Distant.Echo on October 25, 2005, 04:08:35 pm
I was wandering around Best Buy a couple months ago, when I happened upon a display computer that was locked, "Please enter password for Administrator". I had a stroke of genius, and typed "bestbuy". Sure enough, success. How lame are they? :)
Do the famous kismet drive by. =)

What is that??

And no, our password is not CircuitCity..
Title: Re: Computer usage security.
Post by: Eric on October 25, 2005, 05:58:24 pm
For professional users only..

Windows + R -> gpedit.msc

Customize what a user can and cannot access. I assume you can turn a limited account into an Administrative account and turn things on or off (i.e. Disable right-click) and then make the account limited again. Very nice feature. If you have Media Center OS, this feature will work for you as well.

If you have Windows XP Home -> www.winguides.com will provide a registry editor with a decent GUI for you to use.

I told you that there were better things that you could use than the registry. ;)
Title: Re: Computer usage security.
Post by: Joe on October 25, 2005, 06:05:14 pm
I was wandering around Best Buy a couple months ago, when I happened upon a display computer that was locked, "Please enter password for Administrator". I had a stroke of genius, and typed "bestbuy". Sure enough, success. How lame are they? :)
Do the famous kismet drive by. =)

What is that??

And no, our password is not CircuitCity..


kismet is a utility iago uses to find his house when he gets lost. It scans the area for unsecure wireless networks, aparently iago isn't as paranoid as we think. =).
Title: Re: Computer usage security.
Post by: Blaze on October 25, 2005, 10:26:41 pm
So what?  Does he follow the trail of insecure networks till he finds his secure one? :P
Title: Re: Computer usage security.
Post by: iago on October 26, 2005, 12:25:17 am
So what?  Does he follow the trail of insecure networks till he finds his secure one? :P
My wireless isn't terribly secure, since WEP is weak.  The advantage is, however, that I know exactly how secure (or insecure) it is.  I don't kid myself.  I am fully aware that it's a risk, and it's a risk that I'm willing to take.  That's more important than me than the illusion of security. 
Title: Re: Computer usage security.
Post by: RoMi on October 26, 2005, 06:19:24 am
Why not put up one of those porn blocks rather then block the OS?  What if someone is trying to see the upgrades of Windows XP over their older version of windows and you are ruining that experience and may sell less.  I'm calling the Circuit City Corporate HQ!
Title: Re: Computer usage security.
Post by: Joe on October 26, 2005, 07:32:31 am
So what? Does he follow the trail of insecure networks till he finds his secure one? :P
My wireless isn't terribly secure, since WEP is weak. The advantage is, however, that I know exactly how secure (or insecure) it is. I don't kid myself. I am fully aware that it's a risk, and it's a risk that I'm willing to take. That's more important than me than the illusion of security.


Well, I don't claim to be an expert on this, but is having an insecure wireless network that big of a risk? I mean, if its open to the entire internet where we have all the leet haxors (*sees newby*, theres one!), then yeah, but 1024 feet from your house?
Title: Re: Computer usage security.
Post by: iago on October 26, 2005, 08:47:06 am
So what? Does he follow the trail of insecure networks till he finds his secure one? :P
My wireless isn't terribly secure, since WEP is weak. The advantage is, however, that I know exactly how secure (or insecure) it is. I don't kid myself. I am fully aware that it's a risk, and it's a risk that I'm willing to take. That's more important than me than the illusion of security.


Well, I don't claim to be an expert on this, but is having an insecure wireless network that big of a risk? I mean, if its open to the entire internet where we have all the leet haxors (*sees newby*, theres one!), then yeah, but 1024 feet from your house?
Yes, it's a risk.  It's a back door into a network. 
Title: Re: Computer usage security.
Post by: Distant.Echo on October 26, 2005, 01:10:54 pm
Why not put up one of those porn blocks rather then block the OS?  What if someone is trying to see the upgrades of Windows XP over their older version of windows and you are ruining that experience and may sell less.  I'm calling the Circuit City Corporate HQ!

Actually, we don't block programs. Important things like, CP, run, command prompt..those are blocked. The programs included, as well as OS information is readily available. I highly doubt that it will lower sales. Nice try, though. Oh, and Corporate wouldn't really care. Not all stores do this.
Title: Re: Computer usage security.
Post by: deadly7 on October 26, 2005, 04:19:21 pm
I was wandering around Best Buy a couple months ago, when I happened upon a display computer that was locked, "Please enter password for Administrator". I had a stroke of genius, and typed "bestbuy". Sure enough, success. How lame are they? :)
Haha, I noticed that one day too.  Then some guy was like "are you going to buy something, or are you just looking?" and I was like "I'm just looking, thanks.." and walked away.


So what? Does he follow the trail of insecure networks till he finds his secure one? :P
My wireless isn't terribly secure, since WEP is weak. The advantage is, however, that I know exactly how secure (or insecure) it is. I don't kid myself. I am fully aware that it's a risk, and it's a risk that I'm willing to take. That's more important than me than the illusion of security.
WEP is horrible as far as security goes, but then.. they're keys and can be bruteforced easily if someone has the will to do so.  If I had the money, I'd buy some security stuff, as well as a new computer.. just because I need a new computer, and because I am a bit paranoid as far as my computer goes.
Title: Re: Computer usage security.
Post by: iago on October 26, 2005, 07:31:31 pm
What do you mean by bying "Security stuff"?  Not counting the wireless, I have a lot of security stuff on my network.  And I haven't paid a thing.