Securing a High School Windows XP Computer Lab?

An anonymous reader asks: "My SO just inherited a computer lab from a departed teacher who was no security guru. These are Windows XP systems, and security basically consists of a password on the admin account, a subscription to McAfee Security Center, and a free Internet filter. The students have access through a non-passworded 'limited' user account that doesn't seem to limit much. They have been going in and changing settings, downloading games and music, and generally screwing the computers up during class time, in many cases leaving them unusable. As the geek in our house, she has asked me to give her a hand, but while I have dealt with some security issues in the past, it was to protect against remote intruders, not against someone who has to have access to the keyboard. Any suggestions on the best way to lock these systems down?"

Comments

It can't be done anyway.

[mrchaotica]

No matter what you do, sufficiently motivated students will hack their way around it. At least, that was my experience in high school. It doesn't even matter if you try stuff like BIOS passwords, etc. -- the students have physical access to the machines, or at least can con the teachers into getting it (e.g. in order to fix a problem, unless you've got a much less understaffed IT department than my school had).

So what's the solution? Give up, and let them do it. Re-image the machines if they get screwed up, discipline the students if they do something unacceptable (e.g. download porn, etc.), and don't waste your time bothering with anything else.

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