Use a USB flash drive to lock your computer – Cloudeight freeware pick

By | April 17, 2011
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Did you know you can use a USB flash drive to lock your computer? You can. And unless someone has access to that flash drive, they can’t start or logon to your computer.  It will turn any USB flash drive into a key to your computer. So if you want to secure your computer so no one can access it when you’re not around (this comes in really handy for laptops) keep on reading.

There’s a small program called Predator that you can install on a USB drive that allows you to  use that USB drive to lock your computer. It does this by disabling your keyboard, monitor and mouse whenever you remove the special USB drive from your computer. Simply remove the flash drive and your computer is locked, until you return and insert the flash drive back into a USB port on your computer. So what Predator does is turn a USB flash drive into a key that locks and unlocks your computer. It’s really great if you travel and take a notebook with you or if you don’t want people snooping around your PC when you’re not home. EB? Is that you?

Here’s some details on Predator from the program’s developer:

“PREDATOR locks your PC when you are away, even if your Windows session is still opened. It uses a regular USB flash drive as an access control device, and works as follows:

* you insert the USB drive
* you run PREDATOR (autostart with Windows is possible)
* you do your work…
* when you’re away from your PC, you simply remove the USB drive:
once it is removed, the keyboard and mouse are disabled and the screen darkens
* when you return back to your PC, you put the USB flash drive in place:
keyboard and mouse are immediately released, and the display is restored.

It’s easier and faster than closing your Windows session, since you do not have to retype your password when you return.

Advanced Security Features:

* PREDATOR records all security-related events in a log file: start, alarms, stop. By reading this log, you will know if intruders have tried to use your computer while you have been away.
* PREDATOR can replicate this log on your Twitter account, allowing you to remotely monitor all access-control activity on your PC.
* PREDATOR frequently changes the security codes recorded on your USB drive. If an intruder manages to copy your stick, this copy will not work because the codes on your own stick will have changed in the meantime.
* PREDATOR disables the Windows task manager when you unplug the USB drive. Nobody can stop it with Ctrl-Alt-Del.
* PREDATOR lets you regain control of your computer if you lose your stick: when you start the software for the first time, you set a password that will unlock your session if your USB drive is not available.
* PREDATOR can sound an audible alarm if somebody enters an invalid password.
* And finally, PREDATOR can protect several PCs with the same USB flash drive, e.g. your home and office computers.

With PREDATOR, security is as simple as inserting or removing a USB stick !”

Great idea. Isn’t it? Predator is free for home/personal use. If you have a flash drive and you want to turn it into a key to lock your computer, then visit this page to learn more about Predator.

And did you know?

Our USB Bracelets are a great way to make sure you always have your flash drive with you and ready to use.  Read more here.

11 thoughts on “Use a USB flash drive to lock your computer – Cloudeight freeware pick

  1. Ron Driscoll

    What happens if I loose the USB drive or it gets damaged? How do I get back into my computer?

    Reply
    1. infoave Post author

      What happens if you lose the key to your car? What happens if you lose the key to your house? There’s always a way to get into your computer – but it just won’t be very easy. You can break the window on your car and you can hotwire it – you can break the window on your house and get it. There’s always a way.

      Besides – you have a spare key to your car and your house – why not make a spare key to your computer?

      Reply
      1. Ron Driscoll

        Thanks for the comments. I was hoping to here that perhaps you restart the PC in Safe Mode and turn off the Predator SW (if it’s not Auto started). Not sure what you might do if it’s auto started.

        Regards,
        Ron

        Reply
        1. infoave Post author

          Then if you could do it, anyone could do it. It would kind of be like having an extra starter on your car.

          Windows is never 100% secure. There are always ways to boot into Windows. But booting into Safe Mode the normal way still loads the Windows shell.

          Reply
  2. Ron Driscoll

    I’ve DLd and installed setup key on USB. Now how do I make a spare key? I ran Create Key on a second USB, but all this seemed to do was deactivate the first USB and only start with second USB. What am I doing wrong? Also tried copy of CTL file from one stick to the other, this did not work either. Only 1 stick is active at a time, the one on which the key is created.

    Reply
    1. infoave Post author

      Make a copy of the first USB on a second USB. Don’t redownload and re-setup the program.

      Reply
  3. Ron Driscoll

    OK found all answers in the FAQ of the website. Thanks.

    Reply
  4. Jeremy Thomas

    If I use the USB drive as the key, could I still use the USB drive for everything else as well? Or when you use it as the key, that is all it can be used for?

    Reply
    1. infoave Post author

      You can use it for other things after you’ve used it to unlock your computer.

      Reply
  5. Gemenze david

    Hey 🙂 awsome program. Incase i loss my flash disk how do i log into my computer

    Reply

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