Bios/Safe Mode Security

[annie]

Ok, let me just start this by saying i am OVERLY paranoid about this on a regular basis... but with good reason as my husband is a computer programer by profession.

So... that being said...

i was told that there is no way to make a laptop 100% secure due to the BIOS/Safe Mode areas. i have passwords every which way and every small space i can find other then those two areas. I was told, at one point, how to put a password in BOIS. Each time i have tried i am beeped at (in a none to polite manner) and the password has been refused. The other night i was told that if i remove my battery and let the BOIS system loose it's charge then it will reset it's self automatically. So... i did that the other morning and left it for over 4 hours. Since that point though my system has been running slower and acting odd. (Not booting properly, not loading browsers properly, etc.) PLUS i still can't password protect the BOIS.

My BIGGEST concern is spyware on my system. I run three spyware programs, a window washer, an adware program, clear history, cookies, etc. etc. etc... so the windows (operating) portion of my system is not my concern. The concern is someone having put a spyware program on my system through the BOIS/Safe Mode areas. Is there a way to check and see if any thing is hidden either in BOIS or Safe Mode? Where would i look? If nothing else even being able to check a time stamp periodically would help create a piece of mind because i would know when someone was on other then myself. (I am the ONLY one that should be using my system!)

What other steps could i take to make the system secure?

Any help would be appreciated!

Thanks!

[~hellish one~]

i don't know if this would help at all. but it's just a suggestion and it helped fix my problems when no other spyware/virus program could.

http://safety.live.com

is a site run by Windows with 3 different scanners "Protection" "Clean Up" and "Tune Up". i ran all 3 of those (separately) and it found and fixed like a gazillion probs on my pc.

hope this helps!! :)

[_ID_]

annie - To help you solve your problem with your BIOS, I need to know the name of the BIOS manufacture. The Manufacture of your PC, and the exact operating system you use. Also if your using windows XP, I would need to know if you have the SP2 security patch installed.

With that information I could look up the needed information you need to reset your BIOS password, as well as check your windows safe mode.

I do need to advise you however, that sometimes getting the needed info will require contact with the technical support of the affected software or hardware, and could inculde costs of technical support assistance. That said, if your willing to begin your endevor, post or pm the requested info, and I will see if I can at least point you in the right direction.

V/R
ID

[Ozme52]

Ahem... and this comes from a former computer professional who hated the security guys... who always said (and not joking about it...) there jobs would be far easier if we all didn't have computers...

If you are so concerned about your security that you're worried someone will break into your home and boot your computer in safe mode... then don't keep sensitive information on your computer... and get a safe, a big safe that can't be carried out the door.

I suggest not sweating over the BIOS loophole.

[Timberwolf]

"Ok, let me just start this by saying i am OVERLY paranoid about this on a regular basis"

Well, I should have heeded the warning. It's not like it wasn't there. :)

"If you are so concerned about your security that you're worried someone will break into your home and boot your computer in safe mode..."

Don't give people ideas.

[Ozme52]

"Ok, let me just start this by saying i am OVERLY paranoid about this on a regular basis"

Well, I should have heeded the warning. It's not like it wasn't there. :)

"If you are so concerned about your security that you're worried someone will break into your home and boot your computer in safe mode..."

Don't give people ideas.


What? You're worried someone will search all of Virginia house by house in search of annie's computer? ;)

[annie]

If you are so concerned about your security that you're worried someone will break into your home and boot your computer in safe mode... then don't keep sensitive information on your computer... and get a safe, a big safe that can't be carried out the door.

I suggest not sweating over the BIOS loophole.

OK... think there is a miscommunication going on. The person that is a problem is my hubby... not a stranger. I am working on resolving the problem in other fashions as quickly as possible, but there are children involved as well, so "quickly" is a relative term at this point. So... until that can take effect I need to ensure that my system is safe from hubby, the computer programmer.

Personally i have no concern with "Joe Blow" (no pun intended) breaking in and taking the system. They want it that bad... power to 'em and they deserve the shock/surprise of whatever might be found. The concern is INSIDE the house and can/will potentially have an impact on my life and the lives of my three children.

As far as keeping "sensative material" on my system... i keep VERY little now. But, something as simple as this post he could be monitoring in some fashion. THAT is the issue and the concern!

The fact that he is a computer programmer, by trade, and has said, more than once, "If I wanted to bug your computer and screw you I could" is where the question is coming from.

So... now that i have shared WAY more information then anyone probably needs... that is the reason for trying to secure the BIOS/Safe Mode.

[annie]

annie - To help you solve your problem with your BIOS, I need to know the name of the BIOS manufacture. The Manufacture of your PC, and the exact operating system you use. Also if your using windows XP, I would need to know if you have the SP2 security patch installed.

With that information I could look up the needed information you need to reset your BIOS password, as well as check your windows safe mode.

I do need to advise you however, that sometimes getting the needed info will require contact with the technical support of the affected software or hardware, and could inculde costs of technical support assistance. That said, if your willing to begin your endevor, post or pm the requested info, and I will see if I can at least point you in the right direction.

V/R
ID

Thanks for the help. i will see about locating the information...

[Rabbit1]

If your husband is a computer geek---he will know how to bypass the bios password ---it is really simple---there is a small battery inside your computer that keeps track of the date and time even when your main battery is removed and your computer is shut down for hours ---it looks much like a watch battery ----by removing this battery it looses the memory of the bios and its password ---takes about 5 minutes to remove this battery ----the bios password is only good if someone does not know this

[annie]

Thank you Rabbit.

[Domtotrain]

Am I being too simple to think that if she has a password at sign on (in otherwords, password must be provided to boot) that she is safe? Is it possible to boot without knowing the password? I could be in the same shoes as Annie and frankly, I dont like high-heels they dont go well with my Dom image.

[annie]

Waits for the answer... because i have never tried a boot password. Would that make a difference?

i was once told the only way to be safe is to keep my system away from hubby at all costs. Which does accomplish the goal but the system just isn't happy at being lugged to the gym, the store, etc. (Plus, talk about humiliation... taking my laptop to get a bikini wax???... lol)

And Domtotrain... i have a nice pair of black heels You may try.

[Rabbit1]

that is the only sure way ---a person who knows his way around computers can by pass or even find your password as it is stored on the system ---do you think you have to buy a new computer if you happen to forget a password ---you would not believe how many people forget their password here---Passwords are like door locks in your home ---they only keep honest people honest ----if someone wants in bad enough there is a way ---passwords keep children off of your computer unless you child is a computer wizard---lol

[_ID_]

Annie - Perhaps the following link on information security would help

http://www.auckland.ac.nz/security/EssentialSecurityInformation.htm

Additionally, a hardrive from a laptop is not usually that hard to remove, and not that large. If you were to get a mildly priced (somewhere between $75 and $175) safe that is combination locked, register it to yourself with the local athorities, the safe manufacture, and the all local locksmiths. This would help secure your information. Unfortunately there is no full proof way to secure the data against a determined perpitrator with just the use of passwords.

At first I was under the impression you were having trouble resetting the data. As I see you are actually having a different concern.

If you would like more information about data security. Try searching google for classified data security.

You could also take this online course for training on how the government secures their data. Alot of the information will not apply to you, but the practices that it teaches would be helpful

http://www.hr.lanl.gov/scourses/lanl/ClassifiedComputerSecurity/page01.asp

I do hope it is what you are trying to accomplish.

V/R
ID

[annie]

Thank you Rabbit and ID for the help!

[_ID_]

Youre welcome

[Rabbit1]

yes you are very welcome---