How to Lock and unlock your computer with a USB Pendrive?

 

You can Lock down your PC using Pendrive and then unlock it using the same Pendrive.

Want to use your pendrive for locking and unlocking of your computer? This is the way you can do so.

Follow the steps and that will surely help you.  

 

Predator (For windows)

Step 1: Download and install a software: Predator.

This software locks your PC when you are away, even if your Windows session is still active.
It uses a regular USB flash drive as an access control device.

 

Step 2: Once Predator launches plug in the Pendrive.

When you’re away from your PC, you simply remove the USB drive:
– once it is removed, the keyboard and mouse are disabled and the screen darkens
when you return back to your PC, you put the USB flash drive in place:
– keyboard and mouse are immediately released, and the display is restored.

 

Step 3:  When you insert the USB Pendrive, Predator will ask you whether you want to create a password. Click OK to continue.

 

Step 4: In the Preferences window, enter a secure password in the “New password” field. That is if you lose your USB pen drive, you can use this password to unlock your computer.

This software also allows you to use a password in addition to USB lock/unlock. If you want this facility, check the Always Required box and you’ll be asked to enter the password each time you use your thumb drive to unlock your PC.

Finally, in the section under Flash Drives, ensure that the correct USB flash drive is selected. When you’re done, click “Create key” and then OK.

 

Step 5: Predator will exit. Click the Predator icon in the taskbar to restart the program. A few seconds later, the icon will turn green, alerting you that Predator is running. Once done, Predator will check every 30 seconds to see that your USB Pendrive is plugged in. If it isn’t, your computer will dim and lock down.

 You can pause Predator at any time select “Pause monitoring” from the taskbar menu. You can also check if someone accessed your PC/laptop while the Predator was switched on using USB drive from the Predator activity log.

 

The only issue with using predator on your computer is that it locks down one

usb port exclusively for lock/unlock purpose

 

 

 USB lock (for Mac)

USB Lock is a Mac app that’s similar to Predator for Windows: it turns your USB drives into keys that grant access to the computer as long as the USB key is plugged in. Unplugging the drive instantly locks the computer. Creating a USB key with USB Lock will not affect your drive’s files in any way.

It’s a unique solution in the midst of other screen lockers that rely on text-input passwords and grid-swipe patterns. The only downside is that there isn’t a free version available, but for a price tag as low as $3 USD, it’s certainly worth the cost.

Features include:

• Optional password requirement on top of the USB key requirement.

• Does not sleep or close applications when entering locked mode.

• Idle timer that locks the system during inactivity. (Coming soon)

 

When all is said and done, USB Lock is basically Predator Lite. It serves the same core purpose – requiring the USB key to be plugged in order for the computer to be usable – but it doesn’t have the extra bells and whistles that make Predator awesome (namely, the scheduler and per-user customization).

However, seeing as how Predator is only for Windows, USB Lock is the closest alternative for Mac users. Only use it if you can spare an entire USB port. If you can’t, you may be better off using Rohos instead.

To set up your first key with USB Lock:

• Install USB lock.

• Run USB Lock.

• Insert your USB drive when prompted.

• Optionally enter a password if desired.

• Done!

Hope that it would help you in
securing your computer.