I/O Interface Security
Common Options : Locked, Unlocked
Quick Review
This BIOS feature is mainly found in mobile PCs like notebooks and netbooks. It gives you direct control over the availability of various interfaces in the computer. The interfaces you can control with this BIOS feature include :
- Audio Interface - when locked, it disables the onboard audio interface and prevents the use of microphones or earphones.
- Modem Interface - enables or disables the onboard modem
- LAN Network Interface - enables or disables the onboard LAN functionality
- Wireless Network Interface - enables or disables the onboard WLAN functionality
- SATA ODD - when locked, prevents data from being burned into CD/DVD (using a CD/DVD writer)
- eSATA Port - when locked, prevents data from being copied out to an external eSATA hard disk drive or an external CD/DVD writer.
- Express Card Interface - enables or disables the built-in Express Card interface
- Card Reader Interface - enables or disables the built-in flash memory card reader
- 1394 Interface - enables or disables the built-in IEEE1394a (Firewire) interface
- USB Interface - enables or disables the built-in USB ports
To enable or disable those interfaces, you can select between the Locked or Unlocked options. By default, all available interfaces are unlocked. Of course, the BIOS must be secured using a password for the locks to work. Otherwise, anyone can simply unlock these interfaces using the same BIOS feature.
In addition, this BIOS feature can only lock onboard devices. It cannot lock external devices. In the case of a desktop PC, this BIOS feature cannot be used to lock extra interfaces provided by add-on cards.
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Links: Discuss BIOS options here in our forums | Back to the list of BIOS options