The Block

What is THE BLOCK? ++++++++++++++++++ THE BLOCK is a powerful password protection system for Macintosh computers. Unlike other password protection systems, it will not accept real passwords. To log in to a computer protected by THE BLOCK you need to go through a two-step process. First you need to type a Password Key, which is a key combination similar to the Finder's Copy or Paste shortcuts [command+c] or [command+v]. The second step is to click with the mouse on the shutdown button on the on-screen dialog or, depending on the preferences you set, to press the "esc" key on your keyboard. A big part of THE BLOCK's security comes from the illusion that a real password is needed. If intruders are not aware of how THE BLOCK works, they will always choose the wrong approach. If they are aware, THE BLOCK will still be as protective as every other password system because there are many possible Password Keys and there is an option to disable the shift key at startup. A Password Key can consist of any of the four modifiers (command, alt, control or shift) and another key on your keyboard, including the cursor keys, the F-keys and the page navigation keys. THE BLOCK is US$10 shareware. It is available from Marc Mennigmann's web site and all major Macintosh shareware archives and ftp sites. Version 2.1 is a free upgrade to registered users of any earlier version. System Requirements: Any Apple Macintosh or clone with at least a 68020 CPU running MacOS System 7.1 or later. Features ++++++++ * Powerful password protection without a real password. * Disabling of the shift key at startup for 68k and PPC machines. * Activity log to keep track of the time and date of startups, failed login attempts and changes to the preferences. * Sound alerts when a user tries to log in with a wrong password. * An energy saver option can shut down the computer after two minutes of inactivity. * Application-wide balloon help support. * Appearance Manager savvy. * Support of Apple's Navigation services.