Solved Users getting around screen saver

[Holmium]

We have a policy at the University where I work, that if the student computer is unattended for 15 minutes, they will be logged off. We have a screensaver app and it will engage after 14 minutes with a pop up notice that in >1 minute, you'll be logged off. It appears that some students are getting around this policy by leaving a video playing in the background that will prevent the screen saver from kicking in, and this stops the notice and the subsequent log off action.

Students are doing this so they can reserve computers for extended periods of time (as in over night in some cases). Not only is this stupid from a security point of view but it's also annoying as it prevents certain maintenance actions from taking place as these actions check to see if a user is logged in before proceeding.

Does anyone know if there's another way of logging off a computer after 60 minutes of inactivity, regardless of if a video is being played?

*edit* 60 minutes is used as a tutor may be playing a video for a class for a valid reason but as the classes are never more than 60 minutes long, this would be the minimum amount time before I can force the log off. Also, we're not 100% sure if it's a video being played in the background or some other process they're using to get around this process.

 

[MoxieMomma]

Hi,

WOW. That stinks, for sure.

I'm sure there's probably a way to block this, but as these are your university's computers, it would be a matter best reported to your campus IT folks. I would let them handle it.

There's likely little/nothing you can or should do to mess with the systems yourself.

Just a friendly suggestion,
MM

 

[Holmium]

I am Campus IT. GPO is used to enforce the screensaver but they're getting around this.

 

[MoxieMomma]

Well, shoot.
I'm really sorry, @Holmium.
TBH, we mostly see home users here.
Not too many IT pros.
Having said that, I sincerely apologize.

And having said that, we'll need to wait for someone smarter than yours truly.
I would think there's got to be a way, but I do not know what it is.

So sorry,
MM

 

[Holmium]

No worries, appreciated the responses none the less.

I had a thought that I could potentially use task scheduler with the IDLE option set to 1 hour and running a shutdown action. Just not sure if they as a user account (students aren't admins) can interfere with it.

 

[Firefox]

Hello, this place is probably more suited for the home users...

If you want to get better help with this sort of question perhaps asking where a lot of IT folks hang out at like SpiceWorks

 

[Holmium]

Fair enough, thanks for the responses.

 

[Firefox]

You are quite welcome there Holmium