Systems and methods are provided for automatically locking a computer when the authorized user thereof is no longer in the immediate vicinity of the computer.
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AUTOMATIC COMPUTER LOCK
BACKGROUND
Modern computers used in the work, office, and home environment often contain information that should not be accessible to persons other than the authorized user of the computer, or persons that the authorized user grants access. Such information may include confidential or proprietary information of a company or personal information of an individual, such as social security number, account numbers, or other sensitive information. Furthermore, an individual in the home environment may desire to restrict children or spouses from viewing information on the computer, such as age-inappropriate material or private communications.
Computer systems currently address this issue by requiring a user to ³log in´ using a user name and/or password. Assuming the user name and password are not compromised, this method generally prohibits unauthorized access to a ³locked´ computer. Once an authorized user is logged in, the user can prohibit access by remaining at the computer to physically block access or by locking (or logging out of) the computer should the authorized user need to leave the immediate vicinity of the computer.
While the forgoing security procedure is seemingly failsafe, many computer users need to leave the vicinity of their computer once ³logged in.´ This need may occur for various reasons. For example, the authorized user may need to use the restroom, retrieve a copy from a remote printer, or talk briefly to a person in a remote office. In such
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circumstances, the information on the user¶s computer is accessible to unauthorized users unless the user logs off or locks the computer.
Unfortunately, many users forget to log off or lock their computer when they leave the vicinity. Alternatively, users simply decide that the inconvenience of having to unlock their computer or log back in after being away for a short time period justifies leaving their computer and the information thereon accessible to unauthorized individuals.
The problems associated with allowing unauthorized persons access to information on a computer can be readily appreciated. In the home environment, for example, a child may innocently see age-inappropriate material when a parent is away from the computer for even a minute or less. Furthermore, the work environment may raise even more serious security concerns. Many employers require that computer users lock or log out of their computers when they are left unattended for even a brief period of time. Failure to do so may result in reprimands or possibly termination if the problem is acute or the information left unattended is particularly sensitive. And in today¶s stressful work environment, even the most conscientious employee may occasionally forget to lock their computer, resulting in potentially negative consequences to the employer...
