4 Must-Try Programs for Opening and Closing Your Computer using a USB Flash Drive

There are multiple protection methods for computer devices. After the traditional way of securing a computer using a password, users can now lock their devices, especially those running on Windows, using a PIN code, an image, or even by face recognition using the webcam. However, in this article, I will introduce a new method that many may not be aware of, which is using a flash drive to access the Windows system after booting instead of using a password. This method acts as a key for your computer, similar to a key for a house or a car. This smart and distinctive method can protect your computer from intruders. Note that this method is just one of the various uses of USB keys. To utilize this method, we will need programs to configure the flash drive to open and close the computer later on. Let’s take a look at the available programs to do this.

Turning the flash drive into a key for closing and opening the computer is simple. You just need any flash drive you have, regardless of its size or content. Even if it has low storage or contains your personal files that are not frequently used, you can still use it for this purpose without any issues. I recommend trying this method to intelligently and uniquely protect your computer/laptop. Now, let’s directly review the programs that will help you achieve this.

1- Predator Program

The Predator program is a paid program but available as a trial for 10 days. With this program, you can configure the flash drive to act as a key. When you remove it from the computer or laptop, the keyboard, mouse, and screen will be locked. The components of the device will remain operational, stopping others from infiltrating the computer and accessing its contents. By reinserting the flash drive, everything will resume as before. After downloading and running the program, insert the flash drive into the device to read it. You will be prompted to set a password to use when forgetting the flash drive to open the computer again. The program will run in the background, monitoring the flash drive. When it is removed, the screen, keyboard, and mouse will be deactivated. Reinserting the flash drive will reactivate everything without any issues on your computer. (Download)

2- Rohos Logon Key Program

The Rohos Logon Key program is a free program that allows you to log in to the Windows system using a flash drive instead of a password. After restarting the device and reaching the login screen, instead of entering a password to access the desktop, simply insert the flash drive, and you will instantly access the desktop. It’s a very simple process. After running the program, click on “Setup USB Key” to display a window where you can click on “Select USB device” to choose the flash drive you want to use. Enter the Windows password used for logging in, and then click on “Setup USB Key.” Now, when logging in from Windows, it will prompt you to insert the flash drive, and you will directly access the desktop. (Download)

3- USB Raptor Program

The USB Raptor tool is a free program that works without installation and offers the same function as the previous programs, resembling the Predator program. After downloading and running the tool, a window will appear allowing you to select the flash drive you want to use. After installing it in the device, click on “Unlock file creation” and then on “Create k3y file,” followed by “Enable USB Raptor” to activate the program. You will notice that the program icon has appeared in the taskbar next to the clock, indicating that the program is running in the background. (Download)

When the specified flash drive is removed from the computer or laptop, a screen will appear as shown in the image above. It displays the time, the program logo, and some of your device information on the bottom corner of the screen, similar to the lock screen on smartphones. The keyboard and mouse will also be disabled at the moment of removing the flash drive. However, when you insert the flash drive into the device, the desktop will display without any issues. Please note that the selected flash drive contains files related to the program for logging in. Avoid deleting them as it may cause login issues on your computer.

4- VSUsbLogon Program

The VSUsbLogon program is another simple and easy-to-use program that logs out and logs into the Windows system on the computer using a flash drive. After downloading and running the program, you start by selecting the flash drive from the “USB Devices” list. Click on the “Assign” button on the right side, and then another window will appear where you need to enter the password required for login.

After that, observe the menus under the “Logon Options” section shown in the image. You need to specify what you want to happen when the flash drive is inserted and removed from the device. In the first box, decide if you want to log out immediately upon inserting the flash drive, requiring the specified password to confirm you are the owner of the flash drive. There are also other options for further customization. The second box lets you choose whether you want to restart the computer, shut it down completely, or log out upon removing the flash drive from the device.