If you are currently using Windows 95, 98,
NT or Millennium and you are accessing the Internet with these tired old systems, you are hopelessly confused
or completely uncaring or unaware about your online security and the protection of your corporate or personal data as
these operating systems are no longer supported by Microsoft.
If you're still
using an old legacy application (hopefully these systems are OFF the Internet!) on Windows 95, 98 and
ME, you know that these old unsecure operatings systems cannot be secured at logon (unlike Windows NT, 2000,XP, Vista).
Just by pressing Escape at the logon window, anyone can access your pc. There is a free tool available though
to prevent unauthorized access to a computer running these older operating systems called Protector Win Ver 3.0 Deluxe. You
can download it at: http://www.angelfire.com/extreme2/grahampe/protector.htm
NOTE:
If you get a MSVBVM60.DLL error while trying to install this utility, you will need to update your Visual
Basic runtime files. See this link: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/192461
Another way to secure a
session is to password protect your screensaver or set up a POWER ON password in your computer’s BIOS. Your PC's BIOS
(Basic Input Output System) is stored on a small CMOS microchip on your motherboard. If your BIOS supports it, you can
input a password in your BIOS user interface utility that prompts for a password right after you turn your pc on and
before Windows will load. Be careful though - write this password down and store it in a safe place
because with some older computers you may have to replace your CMOS chip or your motherboard if you forget
your power on BIOS password!
While you are working at your Windows 95, 98 or Millenium pc you may need to walk away from your computer
and secure your desktop while you are away from the keyboard. You can either use the Protector Win Ver 3.0 Deluxe
utility to lock the desktop screen or you can set up a shortcut to a Password Protected screen saver. To do this, you
first need to password protect your screen saver. Go into Control Panel and open your Display Properties. On the Display
Properties window Click on the Screensaver tab, CHECK the box next to Password protected, then click
the Change button and type in a screen saver password, click OK. Then click the Apply button and OK button on the Display
Properties window.
Now find a screen saver file (it can be any screen saver) on
your Windows system using the File Find feature. Go to Start, Find, and click on Files or Folders. Type in *.scr
as the file to find in the Named: window. Click Find Now to start the search.
In the File Find results window, pick a screen saver file (*.scr) file, then RIGHT click on that *.scr file and click
on Send To, Desktop (create shortcut). This will create a shortcut to that screensaver *.scr file and copy the shortcut
to the Desktop.
Now go to the Windows Desktop location and double click on the screensaver shortcut you have just made. It will
launch that screensaver and you will now be prompted for a password to unlock it.
For a quicker shortcut you can copy the screensaver shortcut icon that you created on your desktop to the Windows
Start Menu List. Go to your your screensaver shortcut icon that you just made, RIGHT click on it, select Copy.
Now go back to your Start button and RIGHT click on it, select Explore, and then copy the screensaver shortcut icon to the
RIGHT Window Pane (This is the Start button Menu List) by RIGHT clicking on an open area in the RIGHT Window pane,
then select Paste from the drop down menu. Now go back to the Start Button again, LEFT click on it and you
will see your screensaver shortcut icon in that pop up menu. You have made a shortcut in your Windows Menu List which
will let you keep all of your windows open so that you can lock your Windows session by selecting the screensaver shortcut
icon right from the Start menu list.
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