ActiveScreenLock
By Anthony RaimondoActiveScreenLock
Current version 1.9
Pacific Business Center
Att:Dmvsoft
PO Box 34069 #381
Seattle WA 98124-1069
http://dmvsoft.com
For Information:info@dmvsoft.com
Tech Support:support@dmvsoft.com
Supported OS:Win 98, ME, 2000,XPActiveScreenLock is software that allows computer users to protect their machines from unauthorized access. The idea is the standard Windows screen saver with many added features.
The program is downloaded from http://dmvsoft.com. You can try it for free for 30 days. If you want to continue using the program, pay the nominal fee and dmvsoft will send you a key code so that you may freely use the program. The download page offered the program in ZIP format(which requires WinZip program to run) and EXE format(which will run on its own). I downloaded the EXE format. You can also download a help file offered only in Zip format.
After the download was completed, I navigated to the saved file and double-clicked it. The installation program started and installed itself effortlessly. An icon is created for the Desktop and a menu listing is created in the Programs section of the Start Menu. From the Programs List you can access the Configuration Program.
The Configuration program is very extensive. There are four main areas:
General
a. Set Password
b. Set Screen Lock Key Combination to access program (e.g. Ctrl-Q)
c. Set idle time to wait before program self starts if wanted
d. Lock system if computer is turned off or rebooted.Background
e. Set the Wallpaper option to Static Wallpaper or Slide Show
f. Elements to hide when screen is locked. (e.g. mouse cursor)Clock
Logs and Messages ActiveScreenLock will keep track of all attempts to access computer while lock is on. This allows you to see when access of the computer was attempted. In addition, the logs will display the passwords used by someone attempting to access your computer.
These are just some of the features available. After the configuration is set, you can test the program by clicking the lock button inside the configuration program.
Once I clicked the lock button, everything on the screen disappeared and the slide show I had chosen in the configuration appeared. I typed in my password and everything came back. Now to have some fun.
One of the problems using the Windows based screen saver is that you can press Ctrl-Alt-Delete to bring up the Close Program dialog box and end the screen saver task thereby subverting the password. Another way is to merely turn off the computer and restart. The Windows based screen saver does not restart and your computer can be accessed.
ActiveScreenLock has solved this problem in a two ways.
If you press Ctrl-Alt-Delete when the Screen Lock is on, the close dialog box will appear, but the only active button available is cancel which will take you back to the screen lock window.
If you attempt to restart the machine with either a warm or cold boot while the Screen Lock program is running, the machine will reboot normally but the Screen Lock program will be the last program activated. I tried both scenarios and they worked perfectly.One of the nice features of ActiveScreenLock is the ability for visitors to leave messages. Suppose you are away from your desk and someone comes to see you. The Screen Lock window allows for a message to be left. When you return and unlock your screen, a text box appears asking if you want to view your messages. It is a nice touch.
When ActiveScreenLock is activated, it will appear as a system tray icon (this means it appears in the bottom right corner of your taskbar). You and anyone else have the ability to configure or close down the program. But in order to do either, a correct password has to be supplied.
Turning off the computer with ActiveScreenLock activated can be tricky. For security reasons, you cannot shut down the computer, you can only log off. The ActiveScreenLock password has to be supplied and then you are able to log off. You would then log back in without ActiveScreenLock activated. At this point you can shut down the computer.
The better approach is to close ActiveScreenLock first from the system tray icon (right click the icon and click close). Supply the correct password and the program is deactivated. At this point, shut down in the normal fashion.
Now who would use this program. Certainly anyone in a business environment should use this program to stop prying eyes from reading sensitive data while you are away from the desk. But what about home users. At first, I thought there would be little use for home machines, but then I thought about the grandchildren visiting. Here you are working on an important letter to your niece Sally. You get up to answer the door and the grandchildren come running into the room. They start playing on the computer and someone manages to delete your letter. If you had ActiveScreenLock running, they would have only been able to watch the slide show. So yes, this program is for everyone.
I recommend this program. It is simple to install and very important does what it claims it will do. And to try it the price is perfect.
ActiveScreenLock
Current version 1.9
Pacific Business Center
Att:Dmvsoft
PO Box 34069 #381
Seattle WA 98124-1069
Regular Price is $25.00
http://dmvsoft.com