Lock & Unlock Windows PC with a USB Drive - Predator Free Tool

If you're tired of locking your Windows computer and entering the password every time you come back, then Predator a Windows application will ease the process for you with the help of USB flash drive that instantly locks and unlocks your computer.

Now you don't need to worry more about your important files in you computer, Predator will protect your PC in your absence. Predator basically turns your USB Flash drive into a key. When you unplug your USB, your computer will automatically lock itself, it also plays an alarm if any intruder enters the wrong password to unlock it. When you plug it back in, your computer will go back to exactly the way you left it.

Forget that traditional method of typing password every time you logged in, no password typing required, but in case if you lose your USB key, you can still type your password to get access to your computer.

Steps to use Predator Free tool:

Step #1:

First, download Predator Free Edition, it also has Professional Edition that you need to buy and has some better features. Predator Free Edition has the basic features required for the protection of a home computer. List of differences in Free and Professional edition.

Predator works on almost any Windows version, from Windows XP to Windows 8, whether 32 or 64 bit system.

Step #2:

After download completes, extract its contents into My Documents, then run InstallPredator.exe file. When prompted for an installation folder, accept the default path "C:\Program Files\Predator2\" or select your desired folder on your hard drive, but do not select a folder on your USB flash drive. Never install PREDATOR on removable media.

See also >> Format USB Flash Drive in Access Denied & Write Protection Error

Step #3:

The installer program will automatically start Predator application. If not, you can launch it manually via the Start Menu or via the PREDATOR icon on the Desktop. A dialog box will ask you to enter a password and to prepare a USB flash drive. Now its time to insert your USB drive and click Ok. (your data in USB pen drive will not be disturbed).

Step #4:

Now, you'll see the Preferences window like below, configure it the way you want it to perform.

Now, as you can see Three tab on top of Preferences; Main options, Alarm options and Advanced options. But some settings works only in Professional edition.

See also > How to Protect USB Pen Drive from Virus & Malware Attacks

Type the password you want in the "Password" field. This will also be used to unlock your session if you lose your USB key.


Below the password field, check the drive letter displayed under "Flash drives" it should matche with your flash drive letter or choose the correct letter from the drop-down list.

Then click "Create key" button and finally, click Ok.

Step #5:

Predator will exit after this setup procedure, here a window will appear saying Predator setup complete. (like below screenshot)

Finally, click the Predator icon installed on the desktop to restart the program. When you restart Predator, initialization takes a few seconds, then a green ball icon should flash in the system tray, like below.

Now, whenever you see green button then your PC is protected, if its red then wait until it get red.

Things to remember:

When you want to leave your PC, look at the PREDATOR icon in the taskbar: if it is red, wait. If it is green and blinking, remove the USB key. And, your Windows desktop will be locked in a few moments, depending on the settings you have made.

See also > Protect PC from Infected USB Pen Drive

If somebody tries to use your PC, PREDATOR shows the password dialog and starts a countdown.
If an invalid password is entered, PREDATOR sounds an audible alarm and displays a blinking Access Denied sign.

When you're back, insert the USB key. The desktop will be unlocked in few second. If somebody has tried to use your PC, PREDATOR automatically opens the Log window and shows the failed access attempts.

What if you lose/break/revoke your key:

Follow these instructions:

• Run PREDATOR
• When the screen goes black, click anywhere on the screen with the left mouse button, then press 3 times the Enter key to display the password dialog.
• Type your password: the session is released and the monitoring is suspended.
• Insert a blank flash drive.
• Right-click the PREDATOR icon that is in the taskbar and click the Preferences item

 

Key Features:

• Work on any size of USB drive (less than 1 KB file needed)
• You can store data files too along with "predator.ctl" file located at the root of USB drive.
• The keyboard and mouse are inoperative, the intruder cannot do much.

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