IDEA: Laptop Security - Lock system/send keystroke unless key pressed in n sec

[tmpusr]

The 'download and run termination software' attack can be made substantially more difficult - and time consuming - by removing the browser from the hardware system and running it only in a virtual machine. Getting the downloaded app to the host would be another obstacle. The watchdog solution is viable if you can't run an app built to terminate them, is it not? You can't terminate the watchdogs manually quickly enough - you can't terminate them at the same time - or can you?

[Nod5]

This thread got me thinking of a somewhat similar idea:
1. buy some cheap and very small bluetooth device + bluetooth USB dongle (if the laptop doesn't have internal bluetooth). Keep it in you pocket while using the laptop.
2. write a short autohotkey script with a timer that checks if the bluetooth device is connected every N seconds. If the connection breaks, for example if someone runs away with the laptop, then the script shuts/locks down the system (with/without warning).

[f0dder]

Nod5: you beat me to it

Get a cellphone with bluetooth and an application like floAt's mobile agent (can't remember if MyPhoneExplorer has the capability) that can lock the system when the device is out of range.

[Nod5]

Right, and for some other bluetooth device it would be possible to use http://www.nirsoft.n...luetooth_viewer.html in combo with autohotkey. Nirsoft's bluetooth viewer actually already has an advanced option to run a command line when a new device is detected. Here we need the opposite. But autohotkey solves that. I have no real need for this but now I'm thinking of trying it just because it would be cool

[tmpusr]

If the user stays within range, this would not work, though it would be a great additional layer of security. A corporation/government might not even give its employees the password. It could be unlocked only remotely or when the laptop is returned. This would enable controlling usage remotely so that the system can be used only when approved, in a secure environment. For such a system, one-time passwords would be good to have, too: https://www.grc.com/ppp.htm

[james-locksmith]

but does this screensaver approach really help is very doubtful