How To: Physical Security

Hi, this week I'm going to be telling you how to secure your computer from those unwanted guests. This is a series of tutorials but the first issue we will be addressing is protection against someone who has physical access to your computer. These methods protect your computer not your files so if someone removed your hard drive they could open your files. In next week's tutorial we will prevent this.

Disclaimer

I am not responsible for any damage you cause whilst following this tutorial. Nor am I responsible for any actions you may take before, during or after reading this. In other words don't blame me, this tutorial is for educational purposes only.

Most of us only want to keep family out of your computer and often a strong password will keep the primitives at bay. But how do you know if your password is strong? It should:

• Have a Mixture of lower case and upper case letters.
• Contain one or more numbers in them
• Not consist of a word from any dictionary
• If possible contain punctuation.
• Not be easily guessed such as a pets name.

An example of a strong password is, for the chemistry geeks: P3riod1C.Table and just for the record this isn’t my password I only came up with it because I have a periodic table on my wall and using the online password checker howsecureismypassword.net you can see that it would take an average computer 4 billion years to crack your password and what sibling can ever be bothered to wait that long?

So that will keep out some of your family, but what about those whom are more technically able? A simple password isn’t going to keep them out. Why? Think about it: when you send your PC off for repair how do the technicians gain access to your computer?

You see what Microsoft fails to tell their customers is that they decided they want a backdoor in their system. This back door just happens to be in the form of a secret, hidden Administrator account. What’s worse is the security on this account; non-existent. That’s right folks, right now on your Windows computer there is a massive gaping hole in your perfect password.

Don’t believe me? I’ll prove it: on your computer goto Start > All Programs > Accessories > Command Prompt or type cmd.exe in your start menu. This will open a black window which makes you look very hackeresque. Type in ‘net user’ into this window, without the quotes of course, and this will list all the accounts on your computer and as you can see Administrator is there.

I have blanked out the computer name for security reasons

However we can quickly fix this. You have two choices you can deactivate the account which I prefer because I can always access the data should I ever need to or you can delete it however this is permanent. You will, however, need your own administrator privileges (normally the person who had access to the laptop first or install software) to make these security changes.

Re-open command prompt but this time right click on the icon and click Run As Administrator. Read the message box and click allow (or the equivalent)

To Deactivate (Recommended)

In Command Prompt type in ‘net user Administrator’ this lists all the details of the account including the last logon which can be useful. Now we are going to disable the account type:

 net user Administrator /active:no

You will receive a command saying that the command completed successfully. If you wish to reactivate the account just substitute no for yes.

To Delete

This is simple, yet I don’t think it is anymore secure but should you wish to purge this account simply type

 net user Administrator /delete

You will receive a command saying that the command completed successfully. This account will no longer be listed if you type in net user.

But for those who, like myself, are truly paranoid there is one more layer of security: a BIOS password. The Basic Input Output System is a layer of computer software which we will not go into detail over however it is separate to the OS and therefore it is harder to hack (however not that hard if you know how). Again this password protects your computer not the files stored on the hard drive.

Now this is the difficult part because it varies between different computers and you have to hit the button at the right time. When you turn on your computer you will be presented with your computer manufacturer logo. At this point read the instructions at the bottom of the screen. The option you want will say something like press [F2] to enter BIOS.

Now it doesn’t take a computer science degree to realise that you need to press F2. This will bring you to another ‘hackeresque’ screen, normally blue, you should note that your mouse will not work here. Navigate using the arrow keys to the Security tab. Now navigate to the ‘Set Supervisor Password’ and press enter. Now enter your password which is normally a maximum of 8 characters remembering our guidelines from earlier on.  One last thing is to ensure that Password Check is set to Always this will mean you have to enter your BIOS password every time you logon.

This approach is not practical, however, should you need to share the computer. Make sure you Save and Exit.

If you get stuck or run into any problems just leave a comment below and I'll get back to you.

And that's it, your computer is protected against your family.

Until next time,

Kris

PS: I have created some cool graphics for A New Perspectives. You can get our desktop background below by clicking on it. Don't just right click and save because you won't have the right resolution.

Helpless

NOTE: This post may contain some images which readers may find some pictures of animals of animal testing that may be emotive yet need to be seen. Don't worry this isn't a post about trying to make you vegetarian this is just one of the reasons I am.

So I was in the shower yesterday and there was a fly on the wall. Yeah it's completely irrelevant, until, it slipped into the water and was trying to get out. Now anyone who has even seen anything like that knows that the reason they can't fly away is because his wings were now wet and too heavy.

So I saved him, I picked him up and I know it sounds crazy but he looked so helpless not being able to fly away especially since we had been the cause. When his wings dried out I released him outside and he just flew away. I don't think I could ever deliberately kill something that looked so scared.

You probably know that I'm a bit weird when it comes to saving animals, I shoved someone out of the way when they were trying to kill a bee and opened a window for him to leave because that's all he wanted to do. 

I think that's why we get sadistic adults because they were never taught hurting animals was wrong. Some people setting spiders on fire is fun or playing how many ants can you squash but it's not it's just cruel. Do you know why Beagle dogs are chosen for animal testing? It's because they aren't naturally aggressive. Does anyone else see a flaw with that? I mean they put these animals into tests were they might die because they are innocent? Like I said people are screwed up. 

That's why I'm vegetarian and that's why I avoid products that haven been tested on animals.

So anyway that is my convoluted rant on why the human race is screwed up, not because they eat meat, but because of the sadism of youth.

Until next time,

Kris

Longleat

Hope you had a great holiday everybody, I woke up at like 5am this morning for skating practise at Coventry so I'm tired and all but I couldn't forget my amazing readers now can I?

For my holiday I went to Longleat, which is where Animal Park is filmed, where there's loads (and I mean loads) of animals, so these are just the pictures.

Click here to open the photo album

Loving you and leaving you,

Kris
PS: A New Perspectives will in fact be doing a radio show but there will be more information soon.

Smile

Smile: a facial expression formed by flexing the muscles near both ends of the mouth. In some cases a smile can be seen around the eyes.

That's the definition of a smile, but a smile is so much more; it's a sign of happiness, it's a sign of joy. It's contagious and its an international symbol no matter where you come from in the world people know what it is.

Yeah! I can tell you're smiling at this...

Many biologists actually think the smile originated as a sign of fear. Some Primalogist (a person who studies primates) trace the smile to over 30 million years ago of evolution to the original smile which was thought to be a "fear grin" stemming from monkeys and apes who often used barely clenched teeth to show predators that they were harmless. 

Did you know that actually when I tell you to smile, it can actually be helping your mood - some scientists believe that smiling actually makes us happy. Try it, then try a frown and see if that makes you grumpy.

Which leads to another question that leaves some scientists another question: do we smile because we are happy or are we happy because we smile?

Useless Fact: Smiling is a signaling system that evolved from a need to communicate information of many different forms. One of these is advertisement of sexual interest. Female smiles are appealing to males, increasing physical attractiveness and enhancing "sex appeal. "


So this song is actually amazing but people in the UK have never really heard of it so we are going to see if we can change that the image on the right is the popularity concentration we are going to make sure that the UK turns green.

Smile,

Kris.

PS: To all my readers, have a nice holiday everybody! You're amazing!

Foxes

This is one thing I really don't get - why do people want to kill foxes?

Leave them be!

Most people I won't let you kill a wasp so God help you if you try to kill a fox in front of me, the reason I'm actually writing about this today is because we have foxes! Yes that's right they have made a nest (I think that's the right term?) under one of our neighbours shed's and she has had cubs so now we frequently get a visit from them.

About 21,000 - 25,000 foxes are killed annually by organised hunts and that is ONLY 5% of fox death's so in the UK an estimated 460, 000 foxes die every year. Let's say 1 in every 5 foxes is a mother or father that mean's that 36, 800 fox cubs left without mother's or father's.

"Canine Mange is a terrible condition that left untreated will see the death of the infected fox. We believe that if a condition can be treated then it should be, regardless of whether the householder is unwilling, or unable to pay for the treatment. If you have seen a fox with mange and would be willing to provide food (in the form of a jam or honey sandwiches each night), the treatment can be sent to you free of charge."

If you do have a fox with the mange you can save it for all most no cost you - visit the Fox Welfare Society if you live in the UK and show some compassion.

Kris
PS: The unedited fox video is below and the music is from Jurassic Park. There is a signup form on the right of this page that will allow you to be notified every time I publish a new post.

Perfect World

So what if I live in a perfect world? I don't see the reason why seeing the best in somebody is a bad thing, that doesn't mean you should believe everything someone says but you shouldn't completely disregard them.

In my opinion a world without arguments is not perfect because not all arguments are bad. Take the discovery that the universe was in fact not based around the Earth, Nicolaus Copernicus had to fight but he was right. World peace isn't all what it is cracked up to be up but world tolerance is.

Some people's opinions are completely warped and as much as you want to punch them you can't in fact you should pity them, what kind of life is a life that is based on beliefs that nothing can ever be perfect.

We may not live in a perfect world: I accept that but that doesn't mean I will stop trying to make it perfect and it's unlikely that the world will ever be perfect but that doesn't mean you should just give up because what else is life worth living for?

Sometimes it's easy to forget how beautiful the Earth really is. Be the change you want to see in the world.

Kris

Big, Blue Planet

So here I am sitting on the top floor of a restaurant listening to the ambient noise of people chatting and of people laughing. The normal restaurant environment. Then you realise how very small you are and how infinitely big the universe is.

You'll never know the name of the guy in the red shirt who is sitting less then a meter away from you, you'll never know whether that girl who was sitting at the bar was waiting for a date or whether the lady with the rat in her house ever managed to catch it.

The chances are I'll never meet these people again and that scares me, sometimes the world is impossibly small but for the rest of the time the planet is far to big and then even then our big, blue planet is tiny compared to the rest of the universe. Even somebody you see everyday its unlikely you know a lot about them.

There is over 500 billion planets in our galaxy alone but scientists estimate that there are also 500 million life-cable planets.

So just remember everyone you see has a story. They all came from somewhere; they are all going somewhere but we'll never know.

Kris

Wouldn't miss it for the world

This weekend I had my Duke of Edinburgh practise expedition, for anyone who doesn't know what D Of E is all about, its an award that is about being able to survive by yourself in the country. Two days, full of rain, followed by cows, sore shoulders, cold mornings and stared at by horses. But I wouldn't of missed it for the world!

That's what so great about camping, the experience. Its the sitting in a tent playing cards or talking to random people whilst doing the washing up. It's shouting at a man who has just splashed water over you and calling after a cyclist who decided to try and run you over with his bike. It's that impossible hill that you think you'll never make. It's the singing at the top of your voice whilst walking through a field.

It's a lot, so even though my shoulders are as sore as anything, they'll get better. Even though I was as cold as anything I got in the bath and got warm. But that camp, I won't forget it. But do you want to know the best bit... we have to do it all again.

(Click here for full gallery)

Kris.