password over ride...
- Thread starter susie_q
- Start date
Is he for real? Where does he get this?!
Dunvegan
Inactive
My understanding is that certain versions of vBulletin do have backdoor exploits.
But I'm not saying anything more so as to encourage anyone to do anything illegal. Hacking into private systems is illegal. So, I know your son was just speaking in theoretical terms.
Mind you, you have to be somewhat skilled to use the backdoor, it only works on some versions of this particular forum software, and it can be closed, which I'll assume Dennis has already done for TB2K...so you son may only be referencing a backdoor exploit which is probably patched at this particular vBulletin forum...therefore, no worries.
But I'm not saying anything more so as to encourage anyone to do anything illegal. Hacking into private systems is illegal. So, I know your son was just speaking in theoretical terms.
Mind you, you have to be somewhat skilled to use the backdoor, it only works on some versions of this particular forum software, and it can be closed, which I'll assume Dennis has already done for TB2K...so you son may only be referencing a backdoor exploit which is probably patched at this particular vBulletin forum...therefore, no worries.
Thank you Dunvegan...I appreciate your reply. 
We have our computers set to log on with a password, because we TRY to keep him offline for varied reasons, at times. He CAN over ride that password and yes it's wrong, but if he can do this, anyone can. At least he told me about it, but I'm feeling very insecure about the level of control over privacy if 13 year old kids know this stuff.
We have our computers set to log on with a password, because we TRY to keep him offline for varied reasons, at times. He CAN over ride that password and yes it's wrong, but if he can do this, anyone can. At least he told me about it, but I'm feeling very insecure about the level of control over privacy if 13 year old kids know this stuff.
It depends on what O/S you're on, and what you're trying to accomplish. How does he "override" the password, and what password are we talking about? Screen-saver password, logon password, startup (bootup) password?
troglodyte
Inactive
Yes, what types of passwords? If you mean the password that has been saved by IE that you used to log onto this forum (or any web site), it is trivially easy to retrieve the original password. IE "obfuscates" these saved passwords into a file, and this is easily reversable (and necessary, because IE has to have some way of knowing the original password so it can send it to a web site). Your defense here is don't give your kids admin access (make them just "user") to the computer you use, and optionally don't allow IE to save passwords automatically.
If you meant another kind of password, then which?
If you meant another kind of password, then which?
What Operating System are you using? Chances are, we can tell you how to thwart him.
troglodyte
Inactive
You mean the boot password that is set in the BIOS? (You may get this before any other Windows logon screen.) If so, that's a problem, since you can normally reset it by moving a jumper on the motherboard. Some computers have a case that can be locked with a key; that should slow him down a little. And if it doesn't, how about a good spanking?
If you're talking about the Windows logon, it would help to know which version of Windows.
If you're talking about the Windows logon, it would help to know which version of Windows.
So I Assume your using FAT32 as opposed to the NTFS file system? That leaves a big security hole.
However, you can set a BOOTUP password in your PC's BIOS. This password will have to be entered before any O/S is booted. Unless he knows WHICH jumper to use, he can't reset it or get past it.
However, you can set a BOOTUP password in your PC's BIOS. This password will have to be entered before any O/S is booted. Unless he knows WHICH jumper to use, he can't reset it or get past it.
so I can gain some composure. Thank you so very much for helping. he basically just needs to overide the system, go into admin options, make himself an administrator. Can even lock mom and dad out of the cpu if he feels like it. XP's home user security is like swiss cheese. Get a 3rd party keyboard lockout pgm. albeit there are ways to log into XP without using a keyboard.