Getting around the mandatory screenlock

[Roach]

At my work, the corporate security folks have made life miserable for
us field users. After 10 minutes of inactivity, our laptops lock and we
must re-log in to get back to work. Normally this is just an annoyance,
and not really a big deal. The rub is that during field days out in the
bush, we run GPS receivers to our serial or USB ports and map whilst
driving, often negotiating 4-wheel-drive roads. We often can go over
the 10 minute threshold before needing to touch the mouse pad in order
to buy ourselves another 10 minutes. The problem is that if we forget
to touch the mousepad and miss the 10 minutes threshold, then the
program crashes with total data loss. We have to drive back to plaace
of last good data and start over. I have to use this program (which is
otherwise very good). And I have no access to the registry, but have
found that I can install 'lite' programs.

So my question is, what can I do to simulate mouse movement or
otherwise make my laptop 'think' that I am occasionally using the
mouse/keyboard. I've already approached our IT department with the
issue and all they say is, "tough luck"...

Any help appreciated.

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

If your IT department says "tough luck", anything you do without
authorization may compromise your employment.

Instead of the IT department, approach your supervisor.
Most likely the IT department does not have authorization to do what you
want.

 

[peterk]

attach a mouse......with the rough road the mouse will move and the screen
saver will not activate.
of course this is a temporary solution till you can get IT or your Boss to
rectify the situation.
peter

 

[Crusty \(-: Old B@stard :-\)]

What a simple and uncomplicated fix!

Should work fine, and a cheap mouse is only a couple of bucks (-:

--
Regards,

Richard Urban

aka Crusty (-: Old B@stard

If you knew as much as you think you know,
You would realize that you don't know what you thought you knew!

 

[Bruce Chambers]

At my work, the corporate security folks have made life miserable for
us field users. After 10 minutes of inactivity, our laptops lock and we
must re-log in to get back to work. Normally this is just an annoyance,
and not really a big deal. The rub is that during field days out in the
bush, we run GPS receivers to our serial or USB ports and map whilst
driving, often negotiating 4-wheel-drive roads. We often can go over
the 10 minute threshold before needing to touch the mouse pad in order
to buy ourselves another 10 minutes. The problem is that if we forget
to touch the mousepad and miss the 10 minutes threshold, then the
program crashes with total data loss. We have to drive back to plaace
of last good data and start over. I have to use this program (which is
otherwise very good). And I have no access to the registry, but have
found that I can install 'lite' programs.

So my question is, what can I do to simulate mouse movement or
otherwise make my laptop 'think' that I am occasionally using the
mouse/keyboard. I've already approached our IT department with the
issue and all they say is, "tough luck"...

Any help appreciated.

If you don't like your employer's policies, find another job.

--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on having
both at once. - RAH

 

[Steve N.]

If you don't like your employer's policies, find another job.

The problem is that the employers policies are preventing him from DOING
his job.

Steve

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

Steve;
It does not prevent him from doing his job.
It my decrease efficiency but the job can still get done as was already
demonstrated.

A permanent fix is up to the employer.
The mouse is about the only fix available to the employee.
Any software fix could easily compromise employment.
If the employer is not willing to do anything and the employee does not like
that answer, the employees only option may be to find other employment.

 

[V Green]

Steve;
It does not prevent him from doing his job.
It my decrease efficiency but the job can still get done as was already
demonstrated.

A permanent fix is up to the employer.
The mouse is about the only fix available to the employee.
Any software fix could easily compromise employment.
If the employer is not willing to do anything and the employee does not like
that answer, the employees only option may be to find other employment.

There is a another option which none of you have
suggested.

The OP could simply buy his own laptop, and
use it as he sees fit. This expense will likely be tax-
deductible. Hardware is cheap.

If he really likes his job (sounds like a cool job
to me), this is a viable option as you don't need
a cutting edge machine to do GPS datalogging, hell, I use
a Pocket PC for that. There's a $499
Toshiba laptop in the Sunday ads that will more
then fill the need.

The resultant NMEA logs can then be saved to a CF/SD/whatever
and then virus-scanned and transferred to the corporate network,
in accordance with whatever procedures IT comes up with or already has
in place.

 

[Steve N.]

Steve;
It does not prevent him from doing his job.
It my decrease efficiency but the job can still get done as was already
demonstrated.

A permanent fix is up to the employer.
The mouse is about the only fix available to the employee.
Any software fix could easily compromise employment.
If the employer is not willing to do anything and the employee does not like
that answer, the employees only option may be to find other employment.

Haha! Gotta love it JJ. "Don't like it? Pack yer crap!" LOL!

Hey, there's a problem. Can somebody actually FIX it?

The root of the problem lies in the restrictive policy that perhaps
should not be applied to circumstances warranting exception.

I'm a network administrator for a very large organization. My job is to
make the system work for ALL of the users. ALL OF THEM. And it does.
Know why? We have policies and procedures, but when the policies prevent
the user from doing their job in an efficiant manner then our procedure
is to evaluate the situation and allow appropriate exceptions to
policies if duly warranted.

The technology exists for what purpose now? To help get the work done in
an efficient manner. I'm as much a network nazi as anyone else but my
prime directive is to keep the system working for EVERYONE. Now, how big
a threat is it to have one measly road-bound laptop exempt from the
10-minute inactivity workstation lockdown? BFD. If a sysadmin can't
figure out how to structure restrictions tailored to need vs. threat
then they may as well be shovelling sh!t in Louisianna.

Steve

 

[Roach]

Well, I hear you Jupiter, but I am in no way going to compromise
anything. I guess there's more to it. This issue is no secret in our
office. Our local IT staff are willing and have the authority to try
some temporary fix, but even their locally-set power user settings for
us field going types get overridden periodically by corporate sniffer
bots (or some such junk roving the network) so that any local admin
privlidges deviating from the norm are reset periodically, (every
couple days to a week, AFAIK). I've submitted special permissions
requests, but in the world of my workplace in an organisation of
thousands, I know where this peon's request will end up: with the pile
of others I've submitted in the past sitting on the back of a toilet
thousands of miles away.

I like the mouse idea though and will try it. Should of thought of it
myself. Thanks

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

Steve;
I suggested a source for a good permanent fix, read my other post since you
apparently have not.
Peter K also gave a workaround.

You make this statement "Hey, there's a problem. Can somebody actually FIX
it?"
Where is your solution?
Stating your job and description does nothing to answer the question you
posed.
You seem to complain about no solution while offering less than myself and
others.

 

[Steve N.]

Steve;
I suggested a source for a good permanent fix, read my other post since you
apparently have not.

Yeah I read it. So what was your "good permanent fix", talk to the IT
dept, expect them to say "tough luck", and maybe find another job?

Peter K also gave a workaround.

Yep and that'll work but in my opinion it shouldn't have to be done. A
mouse is another thing with a wire to fiddle with in a truck cab already
full of GPS gear USB and other cables, etc.

You make this statement "Hey, there's a problem. Can somebody actually FIX
it?"
Where is your solution?

I gave it, remove the restrictions when they interfere with the work to
be done. THAT is the real solution.

Stating your job and description does nothing to answer the question you
posed.

It gives an example of how our IT dept supports the users. It puts the
resposibility for the solution where it belongs.

You seem to complain about no solution while offering less than myself and
others.

Where was I complaining? I was telling how WE deal with such situations
and making the point that the technology exists for the USER. We have
some very restrictive policies but we bend the rules to accomdate the
needs of the users when appropriate. How is that complaining?

Steve

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

You demonstrated two things:
1. You finally read the first paragraph of my first post.
2. You stopped and did not see the second about contacting supervisors..

What is your solution since my suggestion of supervisor and IT department
are not satisfactory?You say "remove the restrictions".
How, if the IT department and supervisors do not cooperate?
The solution must come from the OP and the OPs company, not you or your
company.

Apparently the IT department will not help.
I suggested the OP contact a supervisor.
What if supervisor and other management is unwilling or unable to help?
What do you suggest for a fix?
I do not see many options, other than what has already been stated, what can
the OP do?
What you or your company would do is irrelevant unless the OP works there.

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

Keep a log of time wasted and resources lost as a result of the policy.
Perhaps demonstrating loss of production will translate to $ management and
others can recognize.

 

[Steve N.]

You demonstrated two things: 1. You finally read the first paragraph
of my first post. 2. You stopped and did not see the second about
contacting supervisors..

I read it all the first time around.

What is your solution since my suggestion of supervisor and IT
department are not satisfactory?

I said nothing against that suggestion, however your suggestion that
"the employees only option may be to find other
employment." is not a satisfactory solution.

You say "remove the restrictions". How, if the IT department and
supervisors do not cooperate? The solution must come from the OP and
the OPs company, not you or your company.

Duh. Now what did I say? And you say I didn't read what YOU wrote.

Apparently the IT department will not help.

Yep. And I was very critical of that, citing how we deal with such
situations as example and case in point.

I suggested the OP contact a supervisor.

Yep. No argument there.

What if supervisor and other management is unwilling or unable to
help? What do you suggest for a fix?

Nothing. I gave my criticism of such practices. What is so difficult for
you to grasp concerning that?

I do not see many options, other than what has already been stated,
what can the OP do? What you or your company would do is irrelevant
unless the OP works there.

I repeat:
What I and the organization I work for do in such situations was
presented as a case in point and an example of what could and SHOULD be
done.

The only things I commented negatively on was your "the employees
only option may be to find other employment" statement and the apparent
inadequate flexibility of the OP's IT dept to make it possible for him
to get his job done in an efficient manner.

Incidently, you did not answer my question when you said:

You make this statement "Hey, there's a problem. Can somebody actually FIX
it?"
Where is your solution?
Stating your job and description does nothing to answer the question you
posed.
You seem to complain about no solution while offering less than myself and
others.

where I said:

Where was I complaining? I was telling how WE deal with such
situations and making the point that the technology exists for the
USER. We have some very restrictive policies but we bend the rules to
accomdate the needs of the users when appropriate. How is that
complaining?

You also did not reply to:

Yep and that'll work but in my opinion it shouldn't have to be done.
A mouse is another thing with a wire to fiddle with in a truck cab
already full of GPS gear USB and other cables, etc.

I can read just fine. Can you?

Steve

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

"Can somebody actually FIX > it?"
That sounds like a complaint about my and others suggestions since you
shouted "FIX".

What is to respond to about the mouse?
You stated the obvious, but it is a possible solution.
Neither you or I are in a position to determine if it is feasible.
It is the OP that has to decide if it will work for him...apparently he has
decided it will.

Your case in point is irrelevant unless you are at the OPs company.

You started out by asking "Can somebody actually FIX > it?" Then contributed
nothing for a solution.
What your company does is not a solution that the OP can implement.
The two suggestions given by myself and Peter are apparently the only
options available to the OP.
If you can give a 3rd solution then do so as well as why it was not
mentioned earlier.

The answer to your original question "Can somebody actually FIX > it?" is
NO, not the way you would since the OP is not management or IT at the
company.
There was no need for you to ask since it had already been answered.

If you have nothing to contribute in the form of a workable solution, other
than what was already given, then this subject should be closed.

Good bye Steve.

 

[Steve N.]

"Can somebody actually FIX > it?"
That sounds like a complaint about my and others suggestions since you
shouted "FIX".

What is to respond to about the mouse?
You stated the obvious, but it is a possible solution.
Neither you or I are in a position to determine if it is feasible.
It is the OP that has to decide if it will work for him...apparently he has
decided it will.

Your case in point is irrelevant unless you are at the OPs company.

You started out by asking "Can somebody actually FIX > it?" Then contributed
nothing for a solution.
What your company does is not a solution that the OP can implement.
The two suggestions given by myself and Peter are apparently the only
options available to the OP.
If you can give a 3rd solution then do so as well as why it was not
mentioned earlier.

The answer to your original question "Can somebody actually FIX > it?" is
NO, not the way you would since the OP is not management or IT at the
company.
There was no need for you to ask since it had already been answered.

If you have nothing to contribute in the form of a workable solution, other
than what was already given, then this subject should be closed.

Good bye Steve.

Ok, it's obvious you don't get my point or even see that we basically
agree that it is the responisbilty of the employer to make it work. As
far as my sarcastic comment, which was admittedly poor composition on my
part, it was pointed at your suggestion that he might have to find
another job. That is not a fix for the poblem either, Jupiter.

You're right. Never mind then. Subject closed.

Steve