How can I disable my comp ?

sparrer

I'll be away for a few days soon and don't want anyone to access my computer. Nothing sinister, just feel it's like going into someone elses handbag or wallet. I have a Netgear thingo which allows the two other people in the house access to internet. Is it possible to disable my PC but allow them to use their laptops? It there something I can pull out or undo or whatever :rolleyes: ? I use a password to get into the comp but I understand that anyone with a bit of knowledge, which one of them has, can bypass that. Thanks in advance.

unrich

Take out the HDD wrap it, and put it somewhere where people will not have access. With the spare tyre in the boot of your car at the airport car park.

It takes two minutes and its free.

sparrer

Thanks unrich, your advice is very helpful...but what the heck is an HDD (hard drive disk?) and where do I find it ? Inside the casing? Not being at all techie I was thinking more of 'pulling a plug' or something like that!

Andy_L

The netgear thingo will allow them to access the internet whilst your computer is turned off (probably worth having a quick test just to reassure yourself).
Password protect all accounts, unplug your computer from the mains & netgear router & just tell them you don't want them using your computer while you're away.
If they still use it then you need to ask yourself if you still want to live with people like that

shadowdragon

I agree with Andy, and if there going to the trouble of circumventing your password protection thats bad news.

All I can imagine is that its a student house and they might want to get there mitts on your assignments/thesis ect. And if so I would be cautious too.

If its to protect your collection of pr0n then you should be sharing anyway LOLOL

The hard drive removal is a good idea and will only take a minute with a philips screwdriver.

epninety

Download TrueCrypt and encrypt your entire hard drive. That'll give you protection anytime once the PC is turned off. It's takes a few hours, but you don't have to do anything once the process is started, it's Free:j and very easy. Just choose a good password that you won't forget.

https://www.truecrypt.org

The_JinJ

epninety wrote: »

Download TrueCrypt and encrypt your entire hard drive. That'll give you protection anytime once the PC is turned off. It's takes a few hours, but you don't have to do anything once the process is started, it's Free:j and very easy. Just choose a good password that you won't forget.

www.truecrypt.org

I've used Truecrypt and it works well - you could also use it to encrypt a volume or hidden folder as well - PM if you need details or help

sparrer

shadowdragon wrote: »

All I can imagine is that its a student house and they might want to get there mitts on your assignments/thesis ect. And if so I would be cautious too.

If its to protect your collection of pr0n then you should be sharing anyway LOLOL.

:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

The people in question are my son and a lodger, both adults...sort of. My son is a nosey little git who thinks his mother shouldn't be exchanging emails etc with a gentleman (who I've know for 6 years) so it's as much to protect his feelings as my privacy. I once went away for a weekend (I may be an old but I have a life too:o ) and I came back to find 'someone' had been searching for pr0n, which I objected to. They should do it on their own laptops! And as I said going into someone else's comp is, to me, like going through their wallet - [strike]you[/strike] I don't do that.

Encrypting - is it easy to revert back on my return?

sparrer

...and anyway, why am I explaining my private life to y'all? :rolleyes:

Reaper

If the idea of extracting your hard drive or running encryption programs sounds too techie then how about the low tech solution... stick it in a cupboard and padlock the door!

I assume you have a wireless router in which case they don't need your PC running to access the internet.

epninety

sparrer wrote: »

Encrypting - is it easy to revert back on my return?

With Truecrypt, you encrypt the system drive, and enter a password before Windows boots. Once you enter the password,everything works as normal until you shut down, and you won't really notice a difference.

You could decrypt everything when you get back, there is an option to do that, though I've never tried it. Personally I'd leave it in place - all my PC's with important/private data on are encrypted this way - it's only one extra password to enter for the sake of peace of mind.