Help work prank please

Dirk Diggler

Dirk Diggler

Dirk Diggler

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I've placed a comedy picture on work colleagues background in order to encourage them to lock their desktop in future. I have admin rights on the PC

What's the easiest way to prevent him changing it back for a while? I see some registry hacks but don't want to do that.
 
In my first week of work, someone swapped the orientation of my desktop every time I left my PC unlocked and left my desk.

After 2 times I learnt my lesson.
 
Dirk Diggler said:
I've placed a comedy picture on work colleagues background in order to encourage them to lock their desktop in future. I have admin rights on the PC

What's the easiest way to prevent him changing it back for a while? I see some registry hacks but don't want to do that.
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Could always use gpedit.msc - think you can enforce a desktop wallpaper under User Config > Admin Config > Desktop > Desktop - you cna prohibit changing the desktop, and also set a wallpaper.
 
I was always partial to sellotape under the mouse optical sensor. Not immediately obvious why the mouse doesn't work at a glance.
 
Depending on the keyboard, swap the M and N keys. Only really possible on older proper keyboards.

Depending on the phone handset, open the mouthpiece and sellotape a 2 pence coin inside so they have to shout whenever using the phone.

Readjust his chair every time he's out of sight. Lower it up/down very slightly, adjust one arm slightly, etc. Not enough to make it obvious. Just a little bit each time so he keeps readjusting it.

Plug a wireless mouse into the PC. Just the adapter. Don't put that mouse on his desk. Then occasionally move the mouse so he thinks the PC has gone crazy.
 
Martynt74 said:
I was always partial to sellotape under the mouse optical sensor. Not immediately obvious why the mouse doesn't work at a glance.
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This was always a good one.

Modifying settings on another users PC i think would lead to some sort of disciplinary in our place. I suppose really depends on your work environment.
 
I don't know if Windows still has it. But there used to be a key combination which would rotate the screen orientation. So you could flip the screen upside down, or rotate 90 degrees left or right. Do that when he leaves it unlocked.
 
Hades said:
I don't know if Windows still has it. But there used to be a key combination which would rotate the screen orientation. So you could flip the screen upside down, or rotate 90 degrees left or right. Do that when he leaves it unlocked.
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I think it is control+shift and then an arrow key? Good one to use actually.
 
At my previous work place someone would send a team wide emails using other that offenders computers promising to bring in sweets as punishment for leaving their computer unlocked.

Ay my current work place people don't care and will leave their PCs unlocked while they go for lunch or are off in a meeting :eek:

Yeah I don't recommend registry hacks though
 
Ayahuasca said:
That's a disciplinary in 2022.
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Good job I don't work where you do.

In a previous role i've seen a manager sit at someones desk when they left their computer unlocked & he then sent an e-mail to himself giving 30 days notice of resignation.

She didn't do it again!
 
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Ayahuasca said:
I was being facetious, I certainly wouldn't have made it in a workplace like that!
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Plugging another mouse in or the cello tape on the mouse optics would have been fine had the prank not disrupted the prankee’s work for more than 5 minutes.

Messing with the settings on another’s computer, not so much.

I had a colleague that used another team member’s unlocked computer to send an utterly harmless, inoffensive and amusing email to several managers. Everyone involved thought it was funny, including the chap whose computer and email account were used.

A senior manager heard of the prank and wasn’t amused. Prankster summoned into HR, read Riot Act, given IT Security refresher course to complete and a Written Warning.

Heaven help someone doing the same today if it caused the slightest offence to anyone as they’d be burnt at the stake.
 
Hades said:
I don't know if Windows still has it. But there used to be a key combination which would rotate the screen orientation. So you could flip the screen upside down, or rotate 90 degrees left or right. Do that when he leaves it unlocked.
Click to expand...

Pretty sure that was a shortcut for the Intel iGPU software? I remember that from school though!
 
Terminal_Boy said:
That’s been an interview with HR, your line manager and an IT security person in the telecoms world as far back as I can remember.
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It's a pat on the back in this office.

My intentions are to change his background only. It would just make it a little bit better if I could make it difficult to change back, but I don't want to make any registry changes or anything like that.
 
Iamzod said:
Good job I don't work where you do.

In a previous role i've seen a manager sit at someones desk when they left their computer unlocked & he then sent an e-mail to himself giving 30 days notice of resignation.

She didn't do it again!
Click to expand...

We once sent an email to our boss from his boss and owner of the company, asking him out for dinner. He didn't get that you can send emails from any address so long as you know the correct credentials. We all watched the blood drain from his face.

He was a bit more suspect of emails after that.
 
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