8 ms·

Well, we've had a rule between grown ups at some places I worked at that whenever someone left a machine unlocked a minor prank was acceptable and even encourag

Well, we've had a rule between grown ups at some places I worked at that whenever someone left a machine unlocked a minor prank was acceptable and even encouraged. Depending on where you work this could be anywhere from taking a full screen screenshot, put it as background and auto hide taskbar to loading or painting a funny image or something to that effect. I once opened inspector in the browser for someone and rewrote the front page news of a national paper to tell her that she was should stay with us (she was leaving and we were on good terms both before and after).

hnlmorg 5y ago
Most of the places I've worked at have had a their own theme for what your desktop background should be set at. One place it was Justin Bieber. Another it was a footballer. It was never anything offensive but still generated a laugh whenever anyone came back and realised they'd been "beibered".
- lalaithion 5y ago
  I've had my personal computer's background be this picture for about 5 years now, since I forgot to lock it once, and just haven't bothered to change it https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.reddit.com%2Fr%2Fpics%2Fcomments%2Fd79p45%2Fdid_you_know_that_this_is_bill_gates_sexy_pose%2F&psig=AOvVaw3vxSDu91ncqlG0frbUraqW&ust=1641663450226000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CAsQjRxqFwoTCJCh0oiXoPUCFQAAAAAdAAAAABAP https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.reddit...
3np 5y ago
The solution is obviously to use a tiling WM with all default keybindings changed, and a keyboard with blank keycaps and obscure non-QWERTY layout.
- 4ggr0 5y ago
  That's almost exactly the setup of someone I used to work with. Used i3, blank keycaps on a 60%-keyboard and Dvorak-layout. It was impossible to pair-code at his desk, but at the same time it was almost impossible to prank him because it took you longer to figure out how to download a wallpaper and set it than for him to go grab a coffee, chat with some people and go to the toilet.
  - vidarh 5y ago
    That's what you bring a usb keyboard for.
    - 4ggr0 5y ago
      Isn't the kb-layout handled by the OS, and not the keyboard itself?
      - vidarh 5y ago
        But you'd be able to bring one with the proper layout and without blank keycaps. Or one able to remap in the keyboard.
    - soggybutter 5y ago
      > Isn't the kb-layout handled by the OS, and not the keyboard itself? The OS can remap a traditional layout for you, but a lot of keyboards can store a configured layout that is used when determining which keycodes to send. Chances are pretty good, given the described setup, that they were probably using a keyboard that managed its own layout.
      - 4ggr0 5y ago
        Could be, yeah. I know that his kb had some tiny switches on the underside to configure some things, so you're probably right.
    - 3np 5y ago
      I hope you enjoy reverse-engineering the three-way handshake through vendor/product-IDs in the QMK firmware to activate the HID. Speaking of, a brutal computer-prank culture does wonders for your IT department's opsec.
      - vidarh 5y ago
        In which case you bring another computer, and if necessary another monitor and replace the real one. There's always a way if you truly want to. Of course, I guess this is how you do end up with a paranoid IT department.

hnlmorg 5y ago

Most of the places I've worked at have had a their own theme for what your desktop background should be set at. One place it was Justin Bieber. Another it was a footballer. It was never anything offensive but still generated a laugh whenever anyone came back and realised they'd been "beibered".

lalaithion 5y ago
I've had my personal computer's background be this picture for about 5 years now, since I forgot to lock it once, and just haven't bothered to change it https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.reddit.com%2Fr%2Fpics%2Fcomments%2Fd79p45%2Fdid_you_know_that_this_is_bill_gates_sexy_pose%2F&psig=AOvVaw3vxSDu91ncqlG0frbUraqW&ust=1641663450226000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CAsQjRxqFwoTCJCh0oiXoPUCFQAAAAAdAAAAABAP https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.reddit...

3np 5y ago

The solution is obviously to use a tiling WM with all default keybindings changed, and a keyboard with blank keycaps and obscure non-QWERTY layout.

4ggr0 5y ago
That's almost exactly the setup of someone I used to work with. Used i3, blank keycaps on a 60%-keyboard and Dvorak-layout. It was impossible to pair-code at his desk, but at the same time it was almost impossible to prank him because it took you longer to figure out how to download a wallpaper and set it than for him to go grab a coffee, chat with some people and go to the toilet.
- vidarh 5y ago
  That's what you bring a usb keyboard for.
  - 4ggr0 5y ago
    Isn't the kb-layout handled by the OS, and not the keyboard itself?
    - vidarh 5y ago
      But you'd be able to bring one with the proper layout and without blank keycaps. Or one able to remap in the keyboard.
  - soggybutter 5y ago
    > Isn't the kb-layout handled by the OS, and not the keyboard itself? The OS can remap a traditional layout for you, but a lot of keyboards can store a configured layout that is used when determining which keycodes to send. Chances are pretty good, given the described setup, that they were probably using a keyboard that managed its own layout.
    - 4ggr0 5y ago
      Could be, yeah. I know that his kb had some tiny switches on the underside to configure some things, so you're probably right.
  - 3np 5y ago
    I hope you enjoy reverse-engineering the three-way handshake through vendor/product-IDs in the QMK firmware to activate the HID. Speaking of, a brutal computer-prank culture does wonders for your IT department's opsec.
    - vidarh 5y ago
      In which case you bring another computer, and if necessary another monitor and replace the real one. There's always a way if you truly want to. Of course, I guess this is how you do end up with a paranoid IT department.