[lug] Self Destruct?

Daniel Webb webb at robust.colorado.edu
Mon Apr 15 13:14:48 MDT 2002


Well, the one corporation I worked at used a locked-down Windows2000 with
a BIOS setup password.  I didn't look to see if the case was locked.  They
don't allow any software installation; only the ITS dept. has ability to
do that.  It wouldn't be a quick operation if someone was watching you
because you would have to pull out a screwdriver to open the case and know
the DIP to reset the BIOS memory.

For this kind of situation, you need to be doing everything via SSH to a
computer you control.  Of course,
since they didn't have Exceed or similar programs on there, that limits
you to command-line stuff.

The parallel or USB external hard drive might work OK, or bring in your
own laptop.

On Sat, 13 Apr 2002, Fred Robinson wrote:

> Ok, so this is probably an unsual inquiry but I have an interest in
> acquiring an application or diskette image that is bootable, that will boot
> a PC into DOS, and automatically kickoff off a batch file, or virus for that
> matter, that will render the hard drive unbootable or unreadable, that is of
> course until desktop support repairs the disk by reformatting and
> re-installing the O/S.  Has anyone seen something like this?
>
> Why do I want such a destructive application or disk image?
> I want to be able to scuttle my laptop if necessary, and I want it to be
> quick and effortless.  Just execute an application or plug the floppy in,
> reboot, and it's finished.
>
> Recently I was terminated from a job, unsuspecting of course.  I was frantic
> to delete EVERYTHING on the machine.  It was a dual bootable machine, Win2K
> and Linux.  From Win2K I first tried to format
> C:\ but since I didn't have the Administrator login it wouldn't allow me to
> do this.  So I went about trying to delete everything piece by piece.  Of
> course I'm still not certain I deleted all my intellectual property, but I
> got most of it.  Then there is the issue of the Linux partition.  I didn't
> have time to blast it.  I had little time to sanitize the machine so I
> banked on the PC techs lack of knowledge of Linux, that he wouldn't know how
> to crack the password and login, so I left the Linux partition as it was.
> However, in the future, I would like the ability to simply execute an
> application or hit the power/reset button, boot a floppy, and not have to
> worry about anyone having access to something I may have left
> behind..........
>
> Thoughts.........
>
>
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