prey continues to lock screen even when all settings are off

[nmballa]

Basically, after having installed prey I selected the option to lock
if stolen/missing. After about 15 minutes of use it prompted me to
unlock my laptop (airbook). I have since deselected this option but
continue to see the prompt to unlock pop up several times per day.
Not a huge deal unless I'm in the middle of a presentation for work.
Any ideas?

[nmballa]

And again.  Has anyone else seen this issue?

[nmballa]

Just happened again.

[Drew Reece]

Have you turned off the lock action? It runs every time Prey runs regardless of the missing status.
If it is turned off already re enable the lock it & re enable missing mode. Then disable the lock, allow Prey to run & disable missing mode.

You can make Prey run on demand if you use a command, but that varies by OS. The README has the info.
https://github.com/tomas/prey/blob/master/README

It may help to turn the timing down to 10 minutes so that Prey will check in more often (but also lock more frequently).

Make sure you have a network connection to the internet. If you are behind a proxy server you may be getting stale copies of the control panel file, try another network if possible.

Drew

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[Tom Wood]

I think someone else is trying to help you to get past your issue, but I
want to point out that there is NO SUCH FEATURE as you have described: "I

selected the option to lock if stolen/missing."

There is an option to "lock" which is regardless of stolen/missing status.
But there is no such thing as a lock only when stolen/missing.

This is a common misconception, I'm posting this to try to help clear that
misconception up.

Tom

[nmballa]

Drew, thanks.  I misunderstood the purpose of lock.  Assumed that it was merely for locking when it went missing.  I have followed your instructions and will see if it took care of the issue.

[nmballa]

Tom, thanks for clearing that up.

[nmballa]

Still having issues.  Would it make sense for me to simply to reinstall and then never select that option again?

[Tom Wood]

In order to get it to stop, you will need to have the software installed.  Is it not installed right now?

 

You need to have the Lock module deactivated on the control panel, and then the Prey software needs to check in, to find out that it was turned off on the control panel.

 

So, yes, if it is not installed, install prey.

 

With regards to not using it again, you might find that it works better, once you actually have been through the process of locking/unlocking a couple times.

 

Tom

[nmballa]

Tom,

I have had the lock feature deactivated for the last two days and it still continues to lock my screen every time it updates.  It appears once activated it cannot be unactivated again.  Very annoying feature.  I assume if I just uninstall that should clear the problem?

[Tom Wood]

No, I expect if you uninstall, it will continue to lock on each update.  The software needs to detect that the lock has been turned off, and turn it off locally on your system.

 

Could you send the c:\prey\prey.log file to the list?  Perhaps we can find a clue.

 

Tom

 

 

From: nmballa
Sent: Monday, November 28, 2011 10:43 PM
Subject: Re: [Prey-Security] Re: prey continues to lock screen even when all settings are off

 

Tom,

[nmballa]

Tom,

Can you tell me where to look for this on a mac?  I'm not seeing it in my users folder or any libraries. 

Thanks...

[Drew Reece]

On Mac OS the log is saved in /var/log/prey.log. You can either use the Console application in Applications/Utilities & find it in the log list on the left, or you can use the Finder's 'Go menu > Go to Folder…' to open /var/log/ & view the file manually (drop on TextEdit or double click to open Console.app).

Drew

 

[nmballa]

[Drew Reece]

That looks fine.

The 200 status code means Prey thinks it isn't missing. Did the lock run again?

Drew

On 29 Nov 2011, at 19:40, nmballa wrote:

[nmballa]

Yes, continues to lock every so often.  Can't recall if it has happened before or after I posted this.

[nmballa]

And yet again.

[Drew Reece]

Can you send the log?

Drew

On 29 Nov 2011, at 20:57, nmballa wrote:

Yes, continues to lock every so often.  Can't recall if it has happened before or after I posted this.

[nmballa]

Getting an error #339 when trying to upload to server.  Do you have a direct email?

[Drew Reece]

Just cut & paste into the email?

Applications/Utilities/Console allows toy to copy & paste.

It helps if everyone on the mailing list can see it.

Drew

On 29 Nov 2011, at 22:35, nmballa wrote:

Getting an error #339 when trying to upload to server.  Do you have a direct email?

[nmballa]

### PREY 0.5.3 spreads its wings!

 ### Darwin Nikolai-Mikkelsens-MacBook-Air.local 10.8.0 Darwin Kernel Version 10.8.0: Tue Jun  7 16:33:36 PDT 2011; root:xnu-1504.15.3~1/RELEASE_I386 i386

 -- Looking for connection...

 -- Got network connection!

 -- Checking URL...

 >> Reading configuration...

 -- Setting frequency to 20!

 >> Reading module configuration...

 -- Got instructions for lock module.

 ++ Queueing action for lock module!

 -- Got instructions for secure module.

 ++ Queueing action for secure module!

 >> Verifying status...

 -- Got status code 200!

 -- Nothing to worry about. :)

 >> Running pending actions...

 >> Running lock module!

 -- Creating pidfile for lock's 21532...

 -- Setting up lock!

 -- Running lock before callback.

 -- Running lock after callback.

 -- Action lock exited with status 0.

 -- Removing pidfile...

 >> Running secure module!

 -- Creating pidfile for secure's 21559...

 -- Backup folder already exists for Library/Keychains. Skipping...

 -- Backup folder already exists for Library/Keychains. Skipping...

 -- Backup folder already exists for Library/Application\ Support/Google/Chrome. Skipping...

 -- Backup folder already exists for Library/Application\ Support/Google/Chrome. Skipping...

 -- Action secure exited with status 0.

 -- Removing pidfile...

 -- No pending actions left. All done!

 -- Cleaning up!

[Drew Reece]

It looks like the lock & secure action are still active in the control panel.

> -- Got instructions for lock module.
> ++ Queueing action for lock module!
> -- Got instructions for secure module.
> ++ Queueing action for secure module!

It has also moved your keychains because the secure action is (or was enabled). It will mean any saved passwords won't be available when you open up Keychain access.

Does the control panel look like either of these screenshots?

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/59660/Screen%20shot%202011-11-29%20at%2023.13.52.png
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/59660/Screen%20shot%202011-11-29%20at%2023.13.39.png
Turn off the lock & the secure action.

[nmballa]

See above screenshot.  I'll try your advise tomorrow in the a.m.  Hopefully that should resolve it.  Do you think it is a bug?  I wouldn't mid using the option when I'm traveling but want to make sure I can turn it off.

[Drew Reece]

The screenshot looks right, I just wanted to be sure we were on the same page :)

I'd try the 'new device' tip I mentioned earlier & then go for a reinstall (the uninstaller is in the downloaded prey.dmg).

You may find the built in option to lock the screen would be safest when travelling so that your account is locked even when no wifi is around to cause prey to activate. 

Treat Prey's lock as a backup plan.

Drew

On 30 Nov 2011, at 02:19, nmballa wrote:

See above screenshot.  I'll try your advise tomorrow in the a.m.  Hopefully that should resolve it.  Do you think it is a bug?  I wouldn't mid using the option when I'm traveling but want to make sure I can turn it off.

[prathap singh]

Please dont send any emails hereafter

On Wed, Nov 30, 2011 at 7:49 AM, nmballa <nmb...@gmail.com> wrote:

See above screenshot.  I'll try your advise tomorrow in the a.m.  Hopefully that should resolve it.  Do you think it is a bug?  I wouldn't mid using the option when I'm traveling but want to make sure I can turn it off.

--

[Tom Wood]

Prathap,

  If you don’t want email, you will need to unsubscribe from this mailing list.  See the instructions at the bottom of every message.

Tom

 

From: prey-s...@googlegroups.com [mailto:prey-s...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of prathap singh
Sent: Tuesday, November 29, 2011 8:15 PM
To: prey-s...@googlegroups.com
Subject: Re: [Prey-Security] Re: prey continues to lock screen even when all settings are off

 

Please dont send any emails hereafter

[Tom Wood]

I wonder if the device you are managing on the control panel and the device that the computer thinks that it is are two different things.

 

On the device page on the control panel is a device key, it’s just labeled “key” and is on the right side of the screen.

On the account page on the control panel is an API key.

I suggest you go retrieve these two numbers.

 

Drew, can you help him find the config file on the Mac so he can compare the keys on the control panel to the ones on his machine?

 

If they are different, update the computer to match the control panel.

 

Tom

 

 

From: prey-s...@googlegroups.com [mailto:prey-s...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of nmballa
Sent: Tuesday, November 29, 2011 6:20 PM
To: prey-s...@googlegroups.com
Subject: Re: [Prey-Security] Re: prey continues to lock screen even when all settings are off

 

See above screenshot.  I'll try your advise tomorrow in the a.m.  Hopefully that should resolve it.  Do you think it is a bug?  I wouldn't mid using the option when I'm traveling but want to make sure I can turn it off.

--

[Drew Reece]

Yep, it should be in the message I sent to this thread at…

29 November 2011 23:22:12 GMT (the one with screenshots)

But I can help out if you need more help nmballa.

Drew

[nmballa]

Drew,

I located the keys.  Should I try to adjust those in config file on my mac or go about setting up a new account and then switching those numbers over on my mac?

Thanks,

Nik

[Drew Reece]

I'd start by comparing what is already in the control panel & the config, just to see if they are the same.

Then add a new device, copy the new key & add that to config. 

I'd reboot after that just to clear out any stale temp files.

Don't forget to use sudo to edit the config eg 

sudo nano /usr/share/prey/config

I hope you areOK using nano to edit? 

Drew