Build Your Own Electronic Key Card Lock

edBX writes "GideonTech.com has a new guide up on how to make your own electronic lock using a key card. Built using a phototransistor, infrared-emitting diode and a few ICs, they are able to turn on their computer using a punched out phone card."

Security by Semiobscurity

[the_other_one]

This device will keep the power switch safe
from anybody that does not understand electricity.
Anybody else can bypass the unit with a handy
suitably reshapable piece of conductive material.
Probably a piece of wire would do.
Those whom the computer is protected against
are probably not a threat.

Or you could

[structuredlynx]

Why not just use a BIOS password. There are way more than 255 possible passowrds. If someone can figure out how to open the case and reset the bios, they can figure out how to connect 2 wires to bypass that device. A bios password is cheaper and more reliable.

So why would you do this?

[unterderbrucke]

Waste of time + money. Almost like women :D

Re:Or you could

[RonnyJ]

A lot of common BIOSes have backdoor passwords hardcoded, which let an intruder gain access to the BIOS options without having to work out what the user set the password to. This unfortunately means it's not an effective way to safeguard your PC. Even if an intruder isn't able to use one of these backdoor passwords, he can always reset the BIOS by taking the battery backup out. In the end, no matter what precautions you take, with a standard x86-architecture PC, if an intruder has physical access to it, there's nothing much you can do to stop them switching in on somehow, the only effective protection is to securely encrypt any sensitive data.

Personally...

[LnxAddct]

This isnt all that great of a security measure, however its good to see slashdot posting home project kind of things again. I dont know if its just me, but there haven't been many lately and I like to see what people are up to and building, its a lot better than all of this legal and corporate stuff thats been taking over my monitor. Not that I dont love my SCO fix, or yey some senator is in favor of open source, but hey even though our interests are getting lots of press now, we can't forget things like this. I don't know if anyone else agrees, but thats how I feel.
Cheers,
Steve

Re:Just a thought...

[Computer!]

Best first post ever.

This is a great idea.

Re:Or you could

[Professor Bluebird]

Also, if one can open the case, many boards have a jumper to reset the BIOS passwords.

Re:Just a thought...

[Anonymous Coward]

Isn't it a little ridiculous how many plans are out there on the net to build your own imitations of available commercial products? I envy, but also pity those who have the time and dedication to invest in such pirsuits.

I understand this may sound a little harsh, and many Slashdotters "root for the underdog," but I'm sure some of us here probably work in the consumer product industry and make our living designing/building/selling these things. The last thing we need is another one or one-hundred rogues to take away our business by giving away plans for cheap knock-offs.

Personally I wouldn't spend my time and money into these projects for a few reasons: they haven't been certified, they were designed by an amateur or amateurs (usually), and the cost of time, frustration, raw materials and tools required far exceed the price of just buying an off-the-shelf unit. And to a lesser extent, they are intended to undermine an existing company's business by discouraging the purchase of their product and instead building a cheap rip-off that is "almost" as good.

Re:Just a thought...

[WegianWarrior]

There is a major difference between makeing something (in this case, a keylock for your PC) as a one off, DIY project and starting a produtionrun of them to use on all the PCs at your workplace.

The first you do not primarely because you need whatever you're making, but becase making it is at least half the point. You draw up plans, fool around, modifies things, tries out new ideas and so on... and by the end of it all you have learnt something new, had the pleasure of making somethign with your hands as well as gotten yourself a new piece of (hopefully usefell) equipment.

But judging from your post, you've never had the pleasure of achiving anything on your own, have you?