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nilscrasher Author

Level 1

0 points

My 14 year-old cat has beaten iBook security. Please help.

I have this old cat that likes to sleep on my iBook while I'm not using it. I have set the screensaver to require a password in order to prevent her from entering random keystrokes into the documents I leave open while I'm away.

However, I've noticed that while the computer is still in the screensaver when I return, she has somehow managed to circumvent the password and, among other things, rename my hard drive, execute complex keystroke combinations changing my system settings and save over documents which I have minimized.

I mean, I'm not even smart enough to see what she's done without the password. How is this happening?

Any way to lock up my iBook so that the cat can't.. uh.. do this? Can't close the iBook, due to a cracked screen.. which I am dealing with. We all have our crosses to bear, right? I'm not complaining, I just want to stop the cat from trying to rewrite my novel.

Cheers.

iBook G4, Mac OS X (10.4.9)

Posted on Mar 23, 2007 9:28 AM

85 replies

nilscrasher Author

Level 1

0 points

Mar 25, 2007 1:34 PM in response to BrauBeaton

Yeah. I tried that. I couldn't do it. My best thought was that the cat was unlocking the machine, messing with stuff and then when she got down the screensaver would kick back in when the computer became bored from inactivity.

Thanks, though.

nilscrasher Author

Level 1

0 points

Mar 25, 2007 1:37 PM in response to xenix

Greedy? I haven't asked for anything.

I just wanted to know why my sleepy cat could open my system prefs despite the password lock.

Bugger, cat just went to the kitchen. Other hobby of the cat: Stealing food off the counter. Oh, and licking self inappropriately.

Mar 25, 2007 1:39 PM in response to nilscrasher

Wow this is one interesting, funny topic!

Instead of thinking about the computer, have you thought of training your cat? I mean simply taping its head when she's on your iBook, to let her know she's being naughty.

nilscrasher Author

Level 1

0 points

Mar 25, 2007 1:48 PM in response to nilscrasher

Okay. Thanks all. I really just expected somebody to log on here and tell me about something like Keyboard Cleaner. Which somebody did. And I installed it. And now the cat can only turn on the Caps Lock light. And I haven't had many problems since.

And some people might say that a novelist who starts too many sentences in a row with the word 'and' lacks the competency to actually write a novel. But, like the loneliness thing, I'm complaining about that on yet another forum.

Now that I've contained all of the cat-initiated security breaches, what about the ones from say, people? I need something quick and easy that doesn't require me to close all of my programs while I skip off to the vending machine to buy a Coke and maybe a bag of chips. User switching?

I'm sorry if I sound dumb. There's a reason for that. I am dumb. I mean, I'm a guy whose life was being ruined by a sleepy cat. At least Antonio Rocco is standing up for me. Thanks, Antonio!

I still want help, even as this legitimate concern seems to be declining into self-parody. Thanks to everybody. But, I don't really want to shock or harm or kill the cat.. you know?

Cheers.

Mar 25, 2007 1:48 PM in response to nilscrasher

obviously your cat has installed a keystroke grabbing program on your computer.

nilscrasher Author

Level 1

0 points

Mar 25, 2007 1:50 PM in response to nemesis256

She's 14. That thing about old dogs and new tricks, applies even moreso to old cats. Often, she'll try to claw me when I attempt to push her aside so that I can work. There's no keeping the cat off the warm iBook keyboard.

Thanks, though.

nilscrasher Author

Level 1

0 points

Mar 25, 2007 1:52 PM in response to nilscrasher

This is less important, but my girlfriend is happy that I've finally obtained some level of popularity. Thanks for that, too.

Mar 25, 2007 1:55 PM in response to nilscrasher

If you're 100% sure it was your cat, and no weird problems are happening anymore, I don't think you have anything to worry about as far as people go.

bcc58

Level 1

0 points

Mar 25, 2007 1:58 PM in response to nilscrasher

Would this be a tabby cat by chance? Those tabbies are notorious for this sort of mischief.

PowerBook 12" G4 Mac OS X (10.4.8) z/OS IBM mainframe

Mar 25, 2007 2:01 PM in response to nilscrasher

Hi nilscrasher

You are more than welcome and it has been a pleasure standing up for you. One can tell you love your cat dearly and why not?

As for you being dumb, no you are definitely not! I cant help you with a 3rd-party quick and easy thing. User switching usually works for me and like you I hate the cat shocking thing.

elmow

Level 1

0 points

Mar 25, 2007 2:03 PM in response to nilscrasher

1. Go to Staples (or pretty much any office supply store).

2. Buy a monitor riser:
http://www.staples.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/StaplesProductDisplay?ts=117485 5934840&prodCatType=1&storeId=10001&langId=-1&catalogId=10051&productId=151393&c mArea=FEATURED:SC3:CG6:DP1570

3. Place the riser over the keyboard when you leave the room.

I guess everyone is assuming you've done a thorough virus/trojan scan.

Mar 25, 2007 2:07 PM in response to nilscrasher

I had the problem of the screen not locking and to keep my sanity I used this.

1) Open Keychain Access, then Preferences.
2) Check "Show Status in Menu Bar".

You will now have a lock icon by your clock.

3) When you are walking away from the computer you click on the lock and select "Lock Screen".

Now your screen is locked right away, no more worries.

Snaggy

Level 1

0 points

Mar 25, 2007 2:09 PM in response to nilscrasher

Your cat was a graduate of Cat Keyboard Command Class.... 😀

http://www.geekculture.com/joyoftech/joyarchives/414.html

PowerBook 17" Mac OS X (10.4.7)

Query

Level 1

0 points

Mar 25, 2007 2:12 PM in response to thepuro

Don't you get it? The CAT is the inside!

Mar 25, 2007 2:12 PM in response to thepuro

Eh yourself.

In my experience bored teenagers are too cool to be bothered with anything like the amount of work required to hack into someone’s network. Besides how may bored teenagers out there are capable of doing it? True, there are certain individuals who can and do do it, but it takes them months. The well known exploitation tools out there are meaningless as there is more than effective security measures out there to defeat them because they areso well-known. As for the random IP thing, I regularly test this as part of my job and guess what it takes a lot of effort to do anything effective. Try it yourself, believe me you will get bored and fed up after 20 minutes, pretty much like a bored teenager would.

As for the human race and its nature? Path of least resistance is what most people generally follow. If it involves a lot of work, they tend not to bother, there are far mor better things to do: watching paint dry. . . flowers grow. . . etc etc

My 14 year-old cat has beaten iBook security. Please help.