Security begins at oneself (great prank to do at job!)

My job colleagues and I are very concerned about security. From time to time, we talk about SQL Injections, XSS, defacements, systems security, wireless security and so on. However, we sometimes forget about most basic security policies: locking your session if you leave your computer for a while.

Although it is not the most frequent method for intrusion, leaving your session unlocked could be one of the ways an attacker could use against you. Because of that, we make the following prank:

Google for a picture of some actor or actress that everyone dislikes or is considered disgusting. For instance: David Hasselhoff.
Right-click the full-size picture and set it as Desktop Background.
Restore all windows to hide the brand new background. (If there wasn’t any windows, try locking his/her session).

However, this is funnier if your victim doesn’t see desktop instantly. That is the reason you should cover desktop with windows. (Try opening a web browser and visiting your favorite search engine).

I bet your fellow coworkers will be more cautious leaving their computers unlocked. If not, keep doing it: this prank is always funny.

Tips:
Windows + L locks your session in Windows.
Ctrl + Alt + L locks your session in KDE.

11 Responses to “Security begins at oneself (great prank to do at job!)”

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1 Coquevas April 23, 2008 at 09:04

Full RSS feed now! you as****e!
2 Rafa Vargas April 23, 2008 at 12:47

Please use appropiate vocabulary in my blog.

Okay, but you’ll be responsible for all my hijacked content out there :P
3 des April 23, 2008 at 19:40

Amen! Jejej
4 Loreal April 23, 2008 at 20:22

xD recuérdame que no deje mi pc cerca tuyo
5 Ventur40 April 28, 2008 at 10:28

Vargas you’ll get Hasselhoffed again
6 Christian López Espínola April 29, 2008 at 21:29

ROFLMAO
7 Christian López Espínola May 5, 2008 at 23:46

You’ve got ASTed today!
8 Rafa Vargas May 6, 2008 at 03:48

Yes… :( I won’t fall asleep again in workplace, I promise.
9 Ismael Valenzuela June 11, 2008 at 07:45

Indeed, replacing a desktop background with DH’s picture can be very disgusting. There is yet another powerful technique that can be used, which is both embarrasing and effective at the same time:

1- Go to the unlocked desktop.
2- Open Outlook and click on “New” to compose a new mail.
3- Pick the email of that employee that has just joined the company, and type it in the “To:” field.
4 – Add the following text to the message body: “I love you”.
5 – Click “Send”

This exercise will most likely change the user’s attitude toward locking his desktop when away from the computer.