PREDATOR

This is the period, in seconds, by which PREDATOR verifies the presence of the USB key. If the key has been removed PREDATOR locks the Desktop: it freezes the keyboard and mouse and the screen turns to black. If you need fast detection, set it to its minimum value (5 seconds). Beware shorter values increase the I/O load on the PC; 30 seconds is a reasonable value for most users. Too long a period may extend too much the delay of detection of the removal of the key.

This is the period, in seconds, by which PREDATOR changes the security code on the USB key. By changing this code periodically, PREDATOR ensures that copies of your USB key will be useless for unlocking your computer. We suggest that you select a value between 60 and 120 seconds, because a shorter value would have a perceptible impact on performances without any real benefit, and a larger one would reduce your security.

Important: Do not unplug the key while the icon in the notification area is red, because by then PREDATOR may be writing the key. You can safely remove the key when the icon is green.

Check this box if you want to use a floppy disk instead of a USB key, or if the letter of the volume corresponding to your key is A: or B:

When this option is checked, PREDATOR pops-up a status message in the notification area each time you pause/resume monitoring. This reminder is useful if you unlock your session with the password (hence automatically pausing monitoring) and forget to resume monitoring afterwards.

When PREDATOR detects the removal of the key, the screen turns to black if Screen darkness=100, it becomes gray with Screen darkness=50, and the brightness does not change if the Screen darkness=0. Set this parameter to suit your preference: a black screen will prevent anyone from seeing what you have been doing while you are away. Note that whatever Screen darkness value you've set, the keyboard and mouse are frozen.

PREDATOR supports multiple displays. If you check this option, all auxiliary monitors will be disabled when you unplug the key. If you connect an additional monitor while your session is disabled, PREDATOR will lock this monitor too. You should check this option even if you have no auxiliary monitor.
Uncheck this option if you want to lock your primary monitor only. If you connect an additional monitor, it will work normally. This is a potential vulnerability and you should know exactly why you are doing this.

Check this option, and PREDATOR will hide all your desktop icons when locking your session. They will be restored when you insert the USB key.

Check this option, and PREDATOR will minimize all opened windows when locking your desktop. They will be restored when you insert the USB key. If you check both "Minimize all windows" and "Hide desktop icons" then your desktop will be empty when PREDATOR has locked your session. If you have set Screen darkness < 100 then your wallpaper and your Vista/Windows7 gadgets (if any) will be partly visible.

PREDATOR can disable the Autorun functionality in Windows when you lock your session. By default, when a removable media (CD, DVD and some USB flash drives) that contains an Autorun program is inserted, the system automatically executes the program without requiring user intervention. This means that someone could mount a CD-Rom with an autorun program which would install malware in your PC while you are away. You can protect yourself against this threat with the "Disable Autorun" option. PREDATOR will restore the Autorun functionality (supposing you had not already disabled it through the Windows Control Panel) when you unlock your session.

This feature has some side effects discussed in the FAQ.

Select an audio file (*. wav file) which will be played in case of alarm.

If you did not select any audio file as suggested above, check this box to produce a series of beeps in case of alarm. Note that if this box is checked, a series of short beeps will also be emitted during the last 10 seconds of the countdown displayed by the password input dialog.

Tell how many times you want to play the audio file, or how many beeps you want to produce on the system speaker in case of alarm. If you select 0 (zero) then no sound will be produced during the alarm.

If this option is checked then if there is an intrusion attempt, PREDATOR displays an "Access Denied" flashing screen to make the intrusion conspicuous.

When you run PREDATOR for the first time, you define a password that you'll use to unlock your session if you lose your USB key. You can change this password whenever you want, by typing the old password in the appropriate field, then the new password in the next field.
You must enter at least 6 characters, letters, figures or signs. The password is case sensitive (uppercase and lowercase letters are different).

Check this box for double security: you'll be forced to enter your password each time you plug back your flash drive to unlock your session.

Verify that the drive letter displayed by default actually matches your flash drive or choose the correct letter from the dropdown list. It is necessary to make this choice when several USB drives are plugged into your PC. For example if you have a USB hard-disk in D: and a USB flash drive in F:, you must select the volume F in the list; otherwise PREDATOR will write the security codes on the hard disk instead of putting them on the flash drive.

Then click on the "Create key" button. Writing security codes takes only one second, and your flash drive is ready. If you have used PREDATOR with a different flash drive before, PREDATOR will append the new one to the list below. You can use up to 2 flash drives with the Free Edition, other Editions are not limited.

Optionally, click the "Name" cell corresponding to the newly created key in the list, and enter a few words to describe this flash drive or its user: "Sony 32 Gb" or "Mary", for instance.

Notes:

• the current contents of your flash drive will be unchanged by this operation. PREDATOR will only create a small (1 KB) file named "Predator.ctl", and an empty (0 KB) "autorun.inf" file. Files existing on your USB flash drive will not be deleted nor modified in any way.
• PREDATOR has a unique copy-protection scheme: if someone tries to copy a PREDATOR key, the copied key will be useless. If you need several flash drives to protect your computer, do not make a copy of your flash drive: prepare your additional key(s) with the "Create key" button.

Each time you create a key on a USB flash drive, PREDATOR appends it to this list. You can clearly see how many keys can unlock your PC.

• When you plug a USB flash drive into your computer, PREDATOR highlights the corresponding row in the list.
• If you uncheck the "Enabled" checkbox of a key it will no longer unlock your PC, until you check it again.
• You can name your keys to make the list more usable: simply click the "Name" cell and enter a short description. When you plug a key to unlock your PC, PREDATOR records this event in its Log along with the name of the key. You can later verify when your computer was used and by whom.
• The "Key" column shows the internal identifier of the flash drive (for informational purposes)
• The "Date" column shows the date and time when PREDATOR updated the flash drive for the last time.

You can tell PREDATOR that a flash drive is no longer allowed to unlock your computer. Select the row corresponding to this flash drive (click in its first cell - the dark one on the left), and click the "Revoke Key" button. The row will be deleted from the list. Notice that this flash drive doesn't need to be connected to be revoked.

If you want to disable a flash drive for a limited time only, uncheck its "Enabled" checkbox in the list. While the drive is disabled it can't be used to unlock your PC, and you can re-enable it later.