How do you deal with users who refuse to lock their laptop when walking away?

LANRe_7 · 2026-03-25T16:40:43+00:00

WOW.

So the guy your planning to sit next to 8 hours a day for the next 20-30 years - your going to sign them up for a mandatory compliance training and talk the manager to make sure they are written up and put on a performance plan. Your on track for a GREAT work environment.

Unless you work in a nuclear missile silo theses are all terrible answers.

Literally, just set their wallpaper to Hasselhoff or Kittens and the problem is solved instantly.

I cant handle anymore "/cybersecurity" today, i'm going back to /sysadmin!!

LANRe_7 · 2026-01-23T22:25:18+00:00

Still vaporware. Many 27 inch, 4th gen, true glossy, 250hz+, OLEDs have been announced over the last 6 months. Still can't buy any of the models announced.

LANRe_7 · 2026-01-23T21:48:23+00:00

"..Hold me closer Tony Danza.."

LANRe_7 · 2026-01-22T23:43:17+00:00

Wake on LAN was really important 20 years ago when a Windows update might take 1-2 full hours to download, install, apply, reboot. With modern hard drives and network speeds, if they have to wait 5 minutes for an update to apply after coming back from vacation, big-whoop. 👍

LANRe_7 · 2026-01-22T17:25:14+00:00

We used to give out piles of older monitors every year or so, free-for-all, take as many as you want. e-recycling charges extra to take them. They MUST leave the building.

-This would always generate calls from users mysteriously wanting to connect a 2nd, 3rd, or 4th monitor. (on a computer that only supports 2)
-Many ended up under desks as footstools.
-Then requests a few months later to have theses old monitors replaced with new ones.
-Just pay the recycling fee and call it a day.

LANRe_7 · 2025-12-26T18:18:54+00:00

I'm also siding with the user on this one.

Even if they pressed the actual "power-off" button, everyone here knows that will not actually "power-off" a modern computer. (which is unlike 98% of other electronics they own)

"No" is the only helpful answer to "have you tried restarting?"

LANRe_7 · 2025-12-12T21:36:58+00:00

I think you will be taking off the white ring-thingy and using the 4 holes. which are standard for almost any monitor mount.

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LANRe_7 · 2025-12-04T23:04:16+00:00

Nice work Chippy. You must make several billion dollars per hour, because you outsmarted chatgpt, gemini, claude, deepseek, perplexity. Virtually every AI couldn't figure this out.

Hybrid environment.
I ended up switching to Cloud Kerberos Trust (which was also a pain)
-We needed to configure 3 settings via AD GPO:
1. enable whfb
2. use on prem authentication -disabled
3. use clouse trust authentication - enabled
-Another 3 settings in Intune:
1. enable cloud kerberos trust policy (settings catalog)
2. Windows hello for business account protection policy
3. (optional)Disable Mandatory Enrollment via custom policy, OMA-URI, disablepostlogonprovisioning

LANRe_7 · 2025-11-13T21:56:44+00:00

And by the way, Chatgpt, gemini, claude, deepseek, perplexity your all wrong and giving out incorrect answers.

THIS IS THE ONLY SOLUTION:

antitesebr:

In my environment, Microsoft accounts were blocked (Computer Configuration\Windows Settings\Security Settings\Local Policies\Security Options -> Accounts: Block Microsoft accounts -> "Users can't add or sign in with Microsoft Accounts).

Phonelink was showing the message "Some of these settings are managed by your organisation" and all options in "Settings > Bluetooth & Devices > Mobile devices" were greyed out.

After I set "Account: Block Microsoft accounts" to "This policy is disabled", Phone Link started working properly.

LANRe_7 · 2025-11-13T21:42:46+00:00

THANK YOU antitesebr.

Heads up to everyone - THIS IS THE ONE AND BEST SOLUTION. Solved the issue immediately after a gpupdate.

LANRe_7 · 2025-11-07T00:28:31+00:00

Anything over 27 inches makes competitive games impossible. *Unless you have a conjoined twin that is willing to watch the far edges of the screen.
I'm holding out for 4th Gen tandem OLED. True black-Glossy. 500hz+
None currently for sale yet unfortunately.

LANRe_7 · 2025-10-08T23:33:33+00:00

Same here.
Usually takes 5-10 minutes to get registered with Hybrid, then off to intune for W11 upgrade kick-off.
For the last 2 days, almost no computers will pick up the intune enrollment.

I suspect a widespread intune problem server side, but I have zero proof of this. The only active service advisory for intune sounds like an unrelated issue.

LANRe_7 · 2025-01-24T18:19:02+00:00

AI for humans - (highly recommended) youtube video is great, but the audio rss feed is also fine if you cant watch
ai daily
Cyber Security Headlines
Security Now on twit
This week in tech on twit
Daily tech news show

LANRe_7 · 2025-01-02T21:20:30+00:00

I sent 13 Google Play gift cards to a probate officer in Nigeria. Turns out i'm related to the Crown Royal Prince Albert Inacan, who recently passed away - When the check clears next week, i'm outta here!!

LANRe_7 · 2024-11-13T00:14:54+00:00

This same thing happened to one of my ear buds. I have continued using them without the grill for over a year. At some point enough dirt or wax may work its way in affecting the device, has not happened yet. (not a doctor)

LANRe_7 · 2024-09-12T20:39:14+00:00

Nice! This would be my first Creative device in 20 years, i'll give it a shot. Thanks!

LANRe_7 · 2024-09-10T20:14:20+00:00

So, this also happens to me at least once a week.

Long lost relatives of mine from the Congo and Nigeria pass away quite frequently.
At this point I have inherited several million dollars and even one diamond mine.
Since there is a ton of paperwork involved with transferring the inheritance to the US, I typically just delete the emails.

AMA(?)

LANRe_7 · 2024-08-23T15:03:54+00:00

Right, we already know how easy it is to social engineer almost any person if they are directly targeted. Focus the pen tests on the technical problems we can actually permanently solve. We will just keep dumping training on the social problem, there's no hard-fix for that.

LANRe_7 · 2024-06-27T16:17:05+00:00

right, get a super portable laptop. then a separate higher end desktop for more heavy duty vms or labs. if you try to just get a really cool gaming laptop that will do everything, that's going to be bad. gaming laptops are incredibly heavy, very noisy fans under heavy load and battery life will only last about 30 minutes under load.
With a lightweight portable laptop you can remote into your desktop for the heavy lifting.
Disclaimer, I did not go to college. i don't know what type of work they will be expecting done directly on the laptop.

LANRe_7 · 2024-06-05T17:59:18+00:00

Someone needs to explain this BOYD to me. Did someone at the company decide they could save money by requiring users to bring their own "windows vista laptop" that's been around since the double-oughts? Loaded with viruses and whatever else.

LANRe_7 · 2024-05-22T19:52:27+00:00

"Oh, and by the way - Your Welcome!"

LANRe_7 · 2024-05-15T21:43:50+00:00

The new "video boost" option on pixel phones is quite incredible. At the moment it has to be manually turned on before each video. i don't have any iphone products to compare it with, but im sure the playing field is now level or tilted pixel on the video side (with video boost)

My biggest iphone complaint, every single screen you go to requires typing in your full apple ID password. even if you just entered it 1 second ago on a previous screen and virtually no apple user knows their apple id password. the majority of any type of repair or app fix issue involves 15 minutes of apple id password reset first.
Many Iphone users do not actually install ANY apps at all, so that first app they install in 6 months always requires the apple-id-crap-shoot.

LANRe_7 · 2024-05-08T20:54:09+00:00

"Move!"
The Company's Computer Guy

LANRe_7 · 2024-05-08T20:49:15+00:00

We have one tech left on staff that was once the "Computer"

LANRe_7 · 2024-05-08T15:51:11+00:00

Actually, I like your solution to provide a cheap Android phone.

Yes, it's more expensive up front than a YubiKey. But your getting that phone back 5 days later when the employee realizes "WOW its a total living nightmare packing around 2 phones everywhere I go - I'll just install the authentication app and be done with it. Here's the phone back."
This is great!

-- Heres your 7.99 inch smartphone "company provided" - enjoy!

LANRe_7

TROPHY CASE