T-Structables: How to Lock Your Computer

Intro: T-Structables: How to Lock Your Computer

How many of you out their have had someone snoop around your computer while you were away? Well, even if this hasn't happened to you, you can't prevent this from happening without downloading or installing anything. In this instructable, I will show you how to securely lock your computer to prevent intrusions.

STEP 1: Illusion Setup

Basically, to lock your computer, we will present any user who tries to access the computer with an illusion. We will make it look like the computer is fine, but nothing will be click-able. To do this, we must first take a snapshot of the screen.

Exit all open windows, and press the Print Screen (PrtSc) button on your keyboard. Now open up paint and press Ctrl+V on an empty canvas. Your screen shot will now pop-up! Save it to anywhere you like with any name.

Next, set the wallpaper to the picture file you just saved. You are now half-way there! Wasn't that easy?

STEP 2: Removing the Interface

Now that your desktop looks like a normal interface, we have to take away the actual interface. This is actually quite simple.

First, open task manager. Now click the processes tab. Now scroll and find explorer.exe. End this process, and your computer will be locked and un-accessible. The user can still Ctrl+alt+delete to task manager, but from there, they won't know what to do; you will.

To bring the interface back, Open task manager and go to the applications tab and press the "New task..." button. In the box, type explorer.exe and press "ok". The interface will now re-load!

There are ways to prevent task-manager from opening, and instead, asking the user for a password. I am not permitted to share how to prevent Ctrl+alt+delete. If you wish to know how, message me.

STEP 3: Finished!

I'm sure this is not the only way to lock your computer, but it is the way I do it. And if you don't like the way I do it, don't criticize me on the way I do it. Instead, share with me how you would do it, because I would love to hear how you would do it =)

So with your new knowledge, rig your computer or laptop correctly and prevent unwanted intrusions. Thank you for viewing!

Comments

[RedFlash]

I wonder if you could get a batch file to do that

[Arbitror]

taskkill /f explorer.exe

Kids these days...

[hintss]

sudo killall nonexistantwindozeprocess

[RedFlash]

That's on linux... Not windows. Please excuse my extreme n00bishness. I have since then learnt batch

[Arbitror]

Why don't you just put a password on your windows login? Or better yet, make a user password in the bios...

[hintss]

Mod4+L

I use linux!

that, and I'm sure theres a terminal command to logout. probably exit

[grimka]

sorry im not 100% sure im correct but if you end explorer.exe on my xp computer it automatically restarts explorer.exe

[davidturner666]

I am 100% sure. As explorer.exe is the main process windows uses- any time you end it- it will restart.

[scob89]

Nope, this is how I used to reserve the internet computers in the hallway while i was at college, the tower was locked in the bottom and once explorer.exe was ended there was no way anyone that was walking by knew how to shut it down. I always had a internet computer reserved for me when I got out of class this way and the explorer.exe never restarted once without me telling it to.

[berky93]

instead of closing explorer.exe, just right click the desktop and go to arrange by>show desktop icons. uncheck that. now right click the taskbar and make sure that is isnt set to lock. just drag the little bar on the top of it downwards towards the edge of the screen, so it hides the taskbar.

[bigmatt19]

I would just tap on the windows key+l Locks it nicely for me.

[Decepticon]

An easier way is exactly what rivetgeek said: Add a password to your account and hit WinKey+L. That will lock your account/pc and will require a password to unlock it.

[rivetgeek]

Uh.... to lock your computer, set a password on your account and then just hit windows-button+L.

[karossii]

I already know how to prevent Ctrl-Alt-Del from working in its default manner, in more than one way. I am more curious as to why you are not allowed to explain that in an instructable...?