Windows tip

[okietool]

I don't want to po the IT guys on this or any forum. But if you're tired of walking away for a minute and then having to type your password back in, start windows media playing an mp3 on repeat. My laptop (company owned) does it and I'm the only one here.

 

[Perplexed]

You too? I wondered if it was just my DSL crapping out momentarily.

 

[okietool]

You too? I wondered if it was just my DSL crapping out momentarily.

No. I meant, I have to log back on to Windows. Whether I'm on the interwebernet or not. A security thing. Discovered entirely by accident.

 

[bigfug]

There are also programs that after a set amount of time will move your mouse cursor one pixel at a time.

 

[Danny Tanner]

If this is a DoD machine, just be cautious in doing this. Besides the security purpose of locking your computer in the first place (which is probably a little exaggerated, but a security risk nonetheless), depending on your management/IT policies/network security team, if caught doing this you could have your account disabled and be forced to retake your IA test. Mostly an inconvenience, but depending on your management, it can result in a disciplinary action.

Also, if a DoD machine, be aware that .mp3s are not allowed, nor are flash/thumb/non-issued USB portable drives, or +R, or any R/W cds or dvds.

Saying that, I was guilty of not only having mp3s on my DoD machine, but putting them on repeat so my machine wouldn't lock, even though I had a desk job so I suppose it wasn't too big of a deal if I was busy turned around chit chatting while my computer didn't automatically lock. Coming from the IT side of DoD, mp3s are typically overlooked, but the flash/thumb/portable drive and the re-writable media policy is taken seriously, as they're huge network and security risks.

 

[n8thegr8]

Having to re-enter your password is a minor inconvenience compared to the enterprise wide mailing list receiving an email from your account with the subject line "I FEEL FLUFFY"

 

[makeithappen]

<---- is an IT guy, just had facepalm moment

 

[Perplexed]

No. I meant, I have to log back on to Windows. Whether I'm on the interwebernet or not. A security thing. Discovered entirely by accident.

Got it. I've noticed that my OSA connection will often go south, and I have to log back in even if I've been idle only a minute or two. Funny thing is, my email and other Net connections remain intact - no logging back in necessary. Just on OSA.

 

[sixseven]

I'm also an IT guy and the truth is it's not really that much of an inconvenience for most people to type in "1234" or "password" every few minutes anyway.

 

[okietool]

If this is a DoD machine, just be cautious in doing this. Besides the security purpose of locking your computer in the first place (which is probably a little exaggerated, but a security risk nonetheless), depending on your management/IT policies/network security team, if caught doing this you could have your account disabled and be forced to retake your IA test. Mostly an inconvenience, but depending on your management, it can result in a disciplinary action.

Also, if a DoD machine, be aware that .mp3s are not allowed, nor are flash/thumb/non-issued USB portable drives, or +R, or any R/W cds or dvds.

Saying that, I was guilty of not only having mp3s on my DoD machine, but putting them on repeat so my machine wouldn't lock, even though I had a desk job so I suppose it wasn't too big of a deal if I was busy turned around chit chatting while my computer didn't automatically lock. Coming from the IT side of DoD, mp3s are typically overlooked, but the flash/thumb/portable drive and the re-writable media policy is taken seriously, as they're huge network and security risks.

More on the order of a DUD machine.
I'm probably a bigger computer geek than most of out IT team. I'm also the crash test dummy for our company proprietary reporting system. My personal best for crashing it was 10 seconds while I was talking on the phone to the development team (some of them). My work assignment is at remote locations.