Suitable both to protect your personal computer from uninvited visitors and to control who does what on a publicly available terminal, WinLock comes with all the features you need to define flexible levels of access. Among other useful functions, WinLock can lock up your entire system, block access to specific system elements, hide active windows and apps individually, and allow access to trusted Internet sites only.
The first thing you want to do is to define a strong master password that WinLock will use to protect your system. This first step is crucial, as your password and the way you set up the various protection options may be the difference between enjoying the benefits of WinLock and being locked out from your own computer. You are advised not to forget your WinLock password ever, and to configure your level of protection wisely.
The program’s restrictions menu is divided into three main categories and a set of other useful utilities. Within the General, System, and Internet main menu options, you will find a number of subcategories that will let you define which precise elements, components, web sites, programs, and even drives will be left open to everyone and which won’t. You can tell the program which events you want to be logged and which ignored, define your favorite hotkeys for the most used actions (protect, lock, instant lock, etc.), and set the program to allow for remote administration. more
When it comes to your OS, you will find under System dozens of components and actions that you can disable or enable separately to customize your protection requirements. You can define different profiles for different users and/or access models and save them for future use. To name but a few, you can disable the registry editor, the control panel, the command prompt, the use of shortcuts, or the clipboard. You can disable access to the Task Manager, My Computer, Change Password, Run as Administrator, or the Windows Installer services, among others. Windows can be locked so that they cannot be modified or moved in any way, and the Explorer, the Start Menu, your mouse and keyboard, and even the Desktop can be configured to act exactly as you want them to. In terms of hardware, you can also hide specific network drives, Flash drives, or disc burners, and – in terms of software – prevent unauthorized users from installing new apps on your computers without your permission. Browsing the Web can also be controlled in terms of which sites are trusted and which are blocked, and you can combine it with the Timer to define whom and for how long can be granted access to your browser.
Just for a bit more, you can upgrade to WinLock Professional, which adds to the standard version’s extensive functionality specific features to manage USB devices, filters for web site content, the option to use your webcam to take a snapshot of unwanted visitors, and a guest password, among others. Thanks to its high level of flexibility, WinLock can be of use in a wide variety of situations. Think of your workstation at the office when you’re away from your desk, your only personal computer at home open to every member of the family, a publicly available terminal in an Internet café, the time your children spend at their PC browsing the Web, the sites they visit, etc. WinLock is a multi-purpose access manager suitable for any situation that requires imposing PC access restrictions of any kind.
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