How would I prevent people from formatting my system ?

[JordanJP]

Hi,

I believe I am in the right section for this. Basically I've got XP on my laptop and my goal is to "safeguard" If you will my system by preventing anyone from just deciding to using a bootable XP Installation CD for instance and going about formatting my hard drive.

How would I prevent someone from accessing my laptop when it is unattended for instance, and say use a Windows Installation Disc and formatting my computer ?

Is there anyway to prevent this ?

Would using a password in the BIOS prevent people from doing this ?


Thanks and I hope that my question is clear enough


Merry Christmas


Jordan

 

[IggyAZ]

Hi,

I believe I am in the right section for this. Basically I've got XP on my laptop and my goal is to "safeguard" If you will my system by preventing anyone from just deciding to using a bootable XP Installation CD for instance and going about formatting my hard drive.

How would I prevent someone from accessing my laptop when it is unattended for instance, and say use a Windows Installation Disc and formatting my computer ?

Is there anyway to prevent this ?

Would using a password in the BIOS prevent people from doing this ?


Thanks and I hope that my question is clear enough


Merry Christmas


Jordan

1.I would think password the BIOS but that can be overcome easily.
2. USB security key that if removed locks keyboard and prevents access when you are gone.
3. Actually everything can be comprimised so as far as I can see nothing can stop someone who has your laptop cab reformat your HD.

I think the answer may be your own personal security of your laptop.

I don't think I was that helpful but these are my ideas and thought for you.

 

[iseeuu]

Hi,

I believe I am in the right section for this. Basically I've got XP on my laptop and my goal is to "safeguard" If you will my system by preventing anyone from just deciding to using a bootable XP Installation CD for instance and going about formatting my hard drive.

How would I prevent someone from accessing my laptop when it is unattended for instance, and say use a Windows Installation Disc and formatting my computer ?

Is there anyway to prevent this ?

Would using a password in the BIOS prevent people from doing this ?


Thanks and I hope that my question is clear enough


Merry Christmas


Jordan

Hello Jordan;

First, set your hard drive as the first drive to boot in the Bios, then create the Bios password. This will give you some security from unwanted tampering.

Cheers!
Robert

 

[iseeuu]

Hi,

I believe I am in the right section for this. Basically I've got XP on my laptop and my goal is to "safeguard" If you will my system by preventing anyone from just deciding to using a bootable XP Installation CD for instance and going about formatting my hard drive.

How would I prevent someone from accessing my laptop when it is unattended for instance, and say use a Windows Installation Disc and formatting my computer ?

Is there anyway to prevent this ?

Would using a password in the BIOS prevent people from doing this ?


Thanks and I hope that my question is clear enough


Merry Christmas


Jordan

1.I would think password the BIOS but that can be overcome easily.
2. USB security key that if removed locks keyboard and prevents acces when you are gone.
3. Actually everything can be comprimised so as far as I can see nothing can stop someone who has your laptop reformating the HD.

I think the answer may be your own personal security of your laptop.

I don't think I was that helpful but these are my ideas and thought for you.

I agree mostly. On a desktop, you cannot access the "Reset Password" pin if the Desktop Case has a lock preventing access to the motherboard. So that with a Bios password gives some security.

With a laptop, I will have to look to see how to "reset the bios password". Then, if the bios allows a "Boot Menu" Fkey that is not part of the Bios password, then security vanishes? Anybody know how the boot menu works with a password protected Bios?

Cheers!
Robert

 

[JordanJP]

thanks for your replies guys !

 

[Qdos]

Answer is simple. You don't share it, and lock it in a safety deposit box every minute you don't need it for your own use... oh, and you keep a full backup drive restore image kicking around too...

 

[pparks1]

Physical security is absolutely required. Somebody who can gain physical access can do anything they want with your machine.

 

[Uber Philf]

Hi,

I believe I am in the right section for this. Basically I've got XP on my laptop and my goal is to "safeguard" If you will my system by preventing anyone from just deciding to using a bootable XP Installation CD for instance and going about formatting my hard drive.

How would I prevent someone from accessing my laptop when it is unattended for instance, and say use a Windows Installation Disc and formatting my computer ?

Is there anyway to prevent this ?

Would using a password in the BIOS prevent people from doing this ?


Thanks and I hope that my question is clear enough


Merry Christmas


Jordan

1.I would think password the BIOS but that can be overcome easily.
2. USB security key that if removed locks keyboard and prevents acces when you are gone.
3. Actually everything can be comprimised so as far as I can see nothing can stop someone who has your laptop reformating the HD.

I think the answer may be your own personal security of your laptop.

I don't think I was that helpful but these are my ideas and thought for you.

I agree mostly. On a desktop, you cannot access the "Reset Password" pin if the Desktop Case has a lock preventing access to the motherboard. So that with a Bios password gives some security.

With a laptop, I will have to look to see how to "reset the bios password". Then, if the bios allows a "Boot Menu" Fkey that is not part of the Bios password, then security vanishes? Anybody know how the boot menu works with a password protected Bios?

Cheers!
Robert

I just checked google, and there are backdoor BIOS passwords for your BIOS.

I think the info is on a Cra**ing site, so i won't give you the link, but google is your best friend.

 

[Zidane24]

Also remember folks that I believe the boot menu key (F12 normally) that lets you choose a device to bootup first by passes the BIOS password screen...

Once they access that menu...FORMAT is emminent

 

[pparks1]

Again, physical security is of the utmost importance. Leave a machine in my presence and I guarantee that I will be able to wipe out the drive. Bust the case open, plug the hard drive into another machine, low level format tool like DBAN and it's gone.

 

[Zidane24]

Again, physical security is of the utmost importance. Leave a machine in my presence and I guarantee that I will be able to wipe out the drive. Bust the case open, plug the hard drive into another machine, low level format tool like DBAN and it's gone.

You seem to speak from experience It is a case of "Gone in Sixty Seconds"

...I was thinking...why bother trying to format...

If you are wanting to format another person's computer...normally you don't care what happens to it...use an industral magnet on the drive

 

[pparks1]

You seem to speak from experience It is a case of "Gone in Sixty Seconds"

Nah...it's just that physical security is everything. People always think that Linux boxes are uber secure, but generally with a boot disk and less than 1 minute you can be sitting at the console with root access. It's nearly impossible to secure a machine if a person can gain physical access.

 

[darkassain]

Again, physical security is of the utmost importance. Leave a machine in my presence and I guarantee that I will be able to wipe out the drive. Bust the case open, plug the hard drive into another machine, low level format tool like DBAN and it's gone.

You seem to speak from experience It is a case of "Gone in Sixty Seconds"

...I was thinking...why bother trying to format...

If you are wanting to format another person's computer...normally you don't care what happens to it...use an industral magnet on the drive

yep one of more ingenious ways to unformat a disk...

You seem to speak from experience It is a case of "Gone in Sixty Seconds"

Nah...it's just that physical security is everything. People always think that Linux boxes are uber secure, but generally with a boot disk and less than 1 minute you can be sitting at the console with root access. It's nearly impossible to secure a machine if a person can gain physical access.

yeah although you still need virtual security
if possible you can prevent a format by software through a hard drive password (not a BIOS password) this will deter someone from being able to access the drive....
although a physical attack is almost (such as the one mentioned using a industrial magnet) impossible to stop if you are using a laptop (a ssd might be a something to think about since its not as susceptible to a magnetic attack like a HDD)...
and if they have actual access to the HDD itself then all bets are off...

 

[Ryan2320]

Totally agree with pparks1..Physical security is a must.. If someone wanted to harm your machine they will most likely do harm with it by physically being there..And like the posts before said that you can boot into a Live CD such as Ubuntu and now have access to the hard drive(s) and copy files to a USB drive .. by not installing anything! and then just take the disk out and restart it and it looks like nothing even happened..

A BIOS password helps but it only slows them down..If they really wanted your data they will find a way..(they always do)

Kinda scary..

 

[pparks1]

Well, you can help protect your data with encryption and the like. However, the gist of this thread was preventing people from formatting your drive....which is easily accomplished through various means if physical access is possible.

 

[Ryan2320]

That was just one of the examples, If you are able to put a Live CD such as Ubuntu in the machine and start it. You now have full access to that machine.You can do anything you want to it..format it, take data off it, destory it..etc.

That is what I was going off of..sorry if it was off the subject..

 

[bigmck]

You seem to speak from experience It is a case of "Gone in Sixty Seconds"

Nah...it's just that physical security is everything. People always think that Linux boxes are uber secure, but generally with a boot disk and less than 1 minute you can be sitting at the console with root access. It's nearly impossible to secure a machine if a person can gain physical access.

Speaking from a Villians point of view, I would not take the trouble to format a HD. I would just steal the whole laptop. That is like someone breaking into your car, starting the engine, putting the car in neutral and burning up all of your gas. Most crooks will just steal your car.

 

[Zidane24]

You seem to speak from experience It is a case of "Gone in Sixty Seconds"

Nah...it's just that physical security is everything. People always think that Linux boxes are uber secure, but generally with a boot disk and less than 1 minute you can be sitting at the console with root access. It's nearly impossible to secure a machine if a person can gain physical access.

Speaking from a Villians point of view, I would not take the trouble to format a HD. I would just steal the whole laptop. That is like someone breaking into your car, starting the engine, putting the car in neutral and burning up all of your gas. Most crooks will just steal your car.

:roflmao:

So true...unless someone is trying to prank you...

 

[darkassain]

You seem to speak from experience It is a case of "Gone in Sixty Seconds"

Nah...it's just that physical security is everything. People always think that Linux boxes are uber secure, but generally with a boot disk and less than 1 minute you can be sitting at the console with root access. It's nearly impossible to secure a machine if a person can gain physical access.

Speaking from a Villians point of view, I would not take the trouble to format a HD. I would just steal the whole laptop. That is like someone breaking into your car, starting the engine, putting the car in neutral and burning up all of your gas. Most crooks will just steal your car.

or if all they want to do is sabotage or delete IP (of course we dont know that)...

 

[Uber Philf]

You seem to speak from experience It is a case of "Gone in Sixty Seconds"

Nah...it's just that physical security is everything. People always think that Linux boxes are uber secure, but generally with a boot disk and less than 1 minute you can be sitting at the console with root access. It's nearly impossible to secure a machine if a person can gain physical access.

Speaking from a Villians point of view, I would not take the trouble to format a HD. I would just steal the whole laptop. That is like someone breaking into your car, starting the engine, putting the car in neutral and burning up all of your gas. Most crooks will just steal your car.

Hahahhaa :roflmao: good call, good call.