Help me break this computer

amdskip

Lifer
Jan 6, 2001
22,530
13
81
We are training some new people and we want to give them some challenges. I can do anything to this machine because it will just get ghosted over anyways.
 

amdskip

Lifer
Jan 6, 2001
22,530
13
81
Has xp on it, can't format, can't drop it out the window.

Whats a good website to get spyware from?
 

Aves

Lifer
Feb 7, 2001
12,232
30
101
Remove the DNS server addresses from the network config or set them to the wrong IPs.

This should take about a minute to figure out.
 

Nitemare

Lifer
Feb 8, 2001
35,461
4
81
Take the mouse away, see how proficient they are with just using a keyboard. Change the keyboard in control panel to dvorak while you are at it
 

Demon-Xanth

Lifer
Feb 15, 2000
20,551
2
81
Look into various registry settings like "noclose" and other policy changes that disable internet settings to simulate trojan and spyware payloads. They can be implemented with a .reg file.
 

nageov3t

Lifer
Feb 18, 2004
42,808
83
91
we do this to train new guys at my job. here are some standard tricks:

randomly change jumper settings on the motherboard and hard drives.
mess around with the boot settings in the bios (disable the hard drive or switch master/slave)
plug in the IDE cables backwards
corrupt the OS installation to the point where it won't boot (works with Linux and Windows)
if it's Windows, use an OS install from a different motherboard, so that the drive won't boot properly no matter how hard they try
 

3chordcharlie

Diamond Member
Mar 30, 2004
9,859
1
81
The dilbert website just tried to install somehting on my work PC (only time I've ever been glad to not have administrator privileges):|

If this is for basic tech support, I would say install kazaa or maybe imesh, and browse a few 'questionable' sites. You want to simulate real problems.

Try hiding some documents in weird places too, then have them find 'that file I was working on' which you don't know the name of. This is especially nice if the computer crashes and you need to track down the office auto-backup version (though that hasn't been as necessary since Office 97/windows 98 stopped being a standard config).
 

Tiamat

Lifer
Nov 25, 2003
14,068
5
71
Replace the CMOS battery with a dead one.

Mix up the Power, reset, speaker, etc wires.
 

Snapster

Diamond Member
Oct 14, 2001
3,916
0
0
If software only, start with Gator, AOL, Kazaa and say yes to any download from porn sites.

Edit: and they are not allowed to use removal tools, it has to be manual! :D
 

zixxer

Diamond Member
Jul 6, 2001
7,326
0
0
Originally posted by: loki8481
we do this to train new guys at my job. here are some standard tricks:

randomly change jumper settings on the motherboard and hard drives.
mess around with the boot settings in the bios (disable the hard drive or switch master/slave)
plug in the IDE cables backwards
corrupt the OS installation to the point where it won't boot (works with Linux and Windows)
if it's Windows, use an OS install from a different motherboard, so that the drive won't boot properly no matter how hard they try

no offense but most of those are retarded ways of testing troubleshooting skills. You normally don't have to deal with someone purposely switching jumpers and junk
 

zixxer

Diamond Member
Jul 6, 2001
7,326
0
0
Originally posted by: loki8481
we do this to train new guys at my job. here are some standard tricks:

randomly change jumper settings on the motherboard and hard drives.
mess around with the boot settings in the bios (disable the hard drive or switch master/slave)
plug in the IDE cables backwards
corrupt the OS installation to the point where it won't boot (works with Linux and Windows)
if it's Windows, use an OS install from a different motherboard, so that the drive won't boot properly no matter how hard they try

no offense but most of those are retarded ways of testing troubleshooting skills. You normally don't have to deal with someone purposely switching jumpers and junk