I was curious as to what are some good, and preferably cheap, methods of securing personal desktop computers in college. I originally was planning on taking just my laptop, but my dad got me a new gaming machine for getting into my top choice of school. I would hate to leave it at home and decided, hey, it wouldn't hurt to bring it. Now, I know there are USB computer locks that are good for laptops, but what about my desktop? What sucks is that because it is a gaming model, the case has built in wheels. What is a good alternative for dorm security? Another USB lock? A desktop locker?
Physically Get a lock http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16834997309 Informationally Get a firewall this ones free http://www.personalfirewall.comodo.com/overview.html
Thanks, but the problem is I doubt that there is an anchor point or a wire hole in the desk where I will be going. Where is there to anchor my desktop to?
you know what type of case is used? it'd help. and TBH I'm not quite sure what to say... encrypt your drives password protect everything... bolt it to something if possible remember theives are lazy people, you don't necessarily have to make it 100% thief proof, just secure enough to keep a lazy person away. try dremelling a bit out of the case in an area which won't be seen, then use a bicycle lock or something similar.
set a boot password in bios, use drive ncryption, back up anything you really dont want to loose before you leave...
im in college atm, and i have a beast machine. dual monitors, huge tower, xbox 360. I know all my friends are jealous of my setup I got goin on here I leave my door open all the time - even when im just down the hall in a friends room. Never had a problem yet. People on my floor are pretty cool and wouldn't steal anything. besides, I dont think any one would even think of trying to pick up my computer and run with it lol - its pretty heavy. Like Xlink said,lazy people. And with all the people here on my floor some one's gotta see a person running away with a computer lol. but unless your in suite room with like 2 or 3 ppl, I wouldn't worry. Im in my own room.
Put on a Bios pw, or Boot pw. Bios pw is better. Put a startup pw for windows, give the 'admin' account for safe mode a pw. That right there kills alot of ameture wannabe hackers. For encrypting files on the computer, I would not use anything windows has.. http://www.Truecrypt.org Its a free encryption program with multiple forms of encryption, it makes files with no attributes and any given file size, then encrypts it. File is mounted much like Daemon tools, if you have ever used it, and shows as another hard disk in my computer. Files can be put in and out once mounted, just like any other folder. But the file itself can be moved and deleted, w/e, with its contents. I used this in a nosey college I was going to, put all my music in one parition, in media player it showed as e:/ for the directories, but it was on the c:/ in reality. My computer WAS searched, and they found squat, except for 14000 songs that didnt work in media player For securing the computer itself...they sell kits that let you bolt or screw it to the counter, but in college dorm I doubt they would allow. So a cable much like a Laptop cable could be used. Im sure someone sells an adapter kit for a PC.
I don't password my computer... I leave it on pretty much all day, idling; and I have yet to have any issues. College isn't like high school where you need to be more careful, most people should be cool... And like daemond said the likelihood of someone actually getting away with your computer is pretty slim... The thing you would have to be careful about is a laptop... Especially if you would take it anywhere, you might leave it. I take my PS3, 360, and laptop down to the main building when we have gaming nights and will leave all three unattended at times and they're still there when I get back... Once again, you shouldn't really have to worry, the more you worry about it the more likely it would happen. haha. (I lived with a roommate last year, and I have a suite with 3 other people) Just lock your door when no one is in your room; and only allow trusted people unattended. Also, turn off File Sharing, especially if you have a wireless card... You don't people accessing your stuff like that. Also, the room across from my friend's has a 40 inch Sony LCD TV along with two sweet computers; they leave their door open all the time, even when they aren't there (and the light is even off)... So you shouldn't really need to worry. If you use a router, either password it, or disable the wireless and hardwire yourself to it.
yep exactly, we having gaming nights here too for halo 3 tournaments (one on friday! ) and i bring down my 360 and let others use it too. by the end of the night its still there. I wouldn't be too worried especially if ur in a single room. your the only one with access to ur room other than the maintenance workers and what not. I wouldn't be too worried, besides theres also insurance for things like this. Im covered under my dads plan at work if anything is stolen or damaged
I was in a college that didnt allow games over T, no game consoles and various other crap including the right to search my computer at will. Oh, im not going there anymore.
Just put your computer in some sort of safe, so that they can't steal your case with the contents, use a cable lock system for the monitor.
I discovered that after wasting 14k there. Apparently other colleges with dorms have rules, but nothing so strict.
get two cardboard boxes and place them over your monitor and case every time you leave, no one would ever even know you had a computer then