Re: [LUG] Unknown BIOS password

["Mark Evans" <mpe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

> Adrian Midgley wrote:
> > .....in general waste an enormous amount of time on
> > information that can commonly be beaten out of people at much less cost
>
> ;)
>
> There are non-technical security devices around as well. 
>
> I use to work for a company which listed 'briefcases that shoot
> people who open them incorrectly' in the catalog, it had a
> pistol built into the opening mechanism. We sold a lot more of
> the spray and dye variety (colour the person, and contents
> bright orange) for transporting financial documents and money,
> although I suspect it was the legal restrictions on who we could
> sell the firearms version to that was the main problem. 

Also big liability issues if some innocent bystander
gets shot. Indeed quite possibly even if it's the
robber who gets shot.

> I believe the manufacturers could arrange to destroy your laptop
> just as easily if that is what you wanted.

There was, possibly still is, a car radio security system
where entering the wrong security code too many times
would destroy part of the circuit.

Would be quite possible to have a system which
capable of making a major mess of all the electronic
and magnetic parts without so much as a whimper.

Maybe the security services should consider
doing this, considering the number of laptops
they appear to leave in London taxis.

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