Use your USB drive to lock you screen

[webfork]

This is very unlikely to be portable and no doubt requires Admin rights, but I've been looking for something that could use any spare USB drive you might have to lock a computer:

Password Booster Screen Lock
http://passwordbooster.com/Products/Pro ... nLock.aspx

After you login to your computer, Screen Lock quietly waits for you to insert your Password Booster or USB flash drive. Now, whenever you remove the device from the USB port, your computer login session is immediately locked. Only the device that was used to lock your computer can be used to unlock you computer. This is the locking device.

[Midas]

If you have a bluetooth mobile phone, BTProximity would be even simpler (untested!)...

BTProximity is an application for Windows Vista and Windows 7 that can detect when your bluetooth-enabled phone has come into range, and unlock your computer. When the device moves out of range, the computer is automatically locked. This isn’t a fake lock window, the desktop is actually locked the same as if you pressed Win+L.

http://www.daveamenta.com/products/btproximity/

[guinness]

I used it (or something similar) back 4 years ago for a bit of fun, but because I'm energy efficient I turn off my PC when not in use.

[webfork]

If you have a bluetooth mobile phone, BTProximity would be even simpler

Appears to lock just fine when the bluetooth device goes out of range, but didn't unlock when I came back. Tested using an iPhone which may not support the Microsoft broadcom/Widcom software mentioned in the config window.

Additionally, depending on where you are you might just leave the immediate area and the computer will not lock. Some bluetooth devices have remarkable range. So for example in offices where you might be upstairs or 100 feet away that might not be far enough to trigger a lock.

Thanks for posting, Midas.

[webfork]

Old thread update: another locking program, this one open source (but in beta):

The utility checks constantly the USB drives for the presence of a specific unlock file with encrypted content. If this specific file is found the computer stays unlocked otherwise the computer locks.
To release the system lock user must plug the USB with the file in any USB port.
Alternative the user can enable (or disable) two additional ways to unlock the system such is network messaging or password.

Features
• Automated USB lock and unlock function
• Lock file contents are encrypted
• Password to override lock (can be selected and enabled by user)
• Network command to override lock (can enabled by user)
• USB drive serial number

Home: http://sourceforge.net/projects/usbraptor/
Softpedia: http://www.softpedia.com/get/Security/L ... ptor.shtml

[Midas]

Good find -- although USBRaptor appears to be DotNET dependent (according to the project's page at SF.net)...

[webfork]

There's obviously a lot of these programs, but I dig that this one has a few power saving options included:

KeyLock
http://www.softpedia.com/get/Security/L ... onet.shtml

[webfork]

Old thread update:

http://sourceforge.net/projects/usbraptor/

I've been waiting for a solid release to come out but this program that's still putting out "Release Cantidates" is seeing fairly regular activity: http://www.softpedia.com/progChangelog/ ... 46916.html