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Gregors

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From: Freiburg, Germany

Registered: 2018-08-09

Posts: 41  

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[done][S] Keyboard-/trackpad-lock

Hi there!

I'm looking for a piece of software to turn the keyboard and/or trackpad off.

Since my laptop often runs unattended while it is open, a cat could accidentially* enter 'rm -rf /' by walking over it. And while I'm typing my thumbs often hit the trackpad (very annoying).

Does anyone here know a piece of software that can help?

TIA

Gregor

*well, maybe not-that-accidentially - it's a cat ...

PS: I made a similar posting on debianforum.de. As soon I have a solution I will "close" this topic.

Last edited by Gregors (2023-10-06 12:57:55)

The-Amnesiac-Philosopher

Member

Registered: 2023-08-24

Posts: 429  

Re: [done][S] Keyboard-/trackpad-lock

I'm not sure what Desktop Environment or Window Manager you're using...

On my window manager(s), if the package xserver-xorg-input-synaptics is installed (and added to your autostart), you can set it to NOT engage the mousepad WHILE TYPING and until a set number of seconds expires AFTER typing; such as...

syndaemon -i 1.0 -d

In the example above, the "1.0" equals one second. So, if you are typing on the keyboard, the mousepad is disabled WHILE TYPING and for one second AFTER you have finished typing. THAT is what I have in my autostart file. You can change that 1.0 to any number of seconds you desire.

Such as...

syndaemon -i 2.0 -d

...for a two-second delay.

I'm not sure how to disable the keyboard...sorry.

EDITED: To clarify things that I didn't think of while typing the message and fix coding stuff.

Last edited by The-Amnesiac-Philosopher (2023-10-05 19:47:56)

The-Amnesiac-Philosopher

Member

Registered: 2023-08-24

Posts: 429  

Re: [done][S] Keyboard-/trackpad-lock

If you want to turn the mousepad (trackpad) off completely, add this to your autostart file (as long as xserver-xorg-input-synaptics is installed)...

synclient TouchpadOff=1

Gregors

Member

From: Freiburg, Germany

Registered: 2018-08-09

Posts: 41  

Website

Re: [done][S] Keyboard-/trackpad-lock

Thanks so far. I already have the synaptics(4) manpage printed out. I'll read this very soon.

The-Amnesiac-Philosopher

Member

Registered: 2023-08-24

Posts: 429  

Re: [done][S] Keyboard-/trackpad-lock

I just thought of something else...

In addition to disabling the (trackpad), have you tried using a screen lock?

There are several out there in the wild (and I assume most desktop environments include one), but I use slock on all of my window managers. It comes in as part of the suckless-tools package.

If you install it...

apt install suckless-tools

...nothing will show in your menu after installing it; however, you can run slock from your run-command or terminal. I always make a "Shutdown" utility that includes that screen lock, but that's another post for another time.

Basically, if you "lock" the screen when you step away from the computer for a while, the screen goes blank, and it won't "unlock" until you correctly enter your username's password. So unless your cat knows your password, he/she can't do any damage.  

Gregors

Member

From: Freiburg, Germany

Registered: 2018-08-09

Posts: 41  

Website

Re: [done][S] Keyboard-/trackpad-lock

Thanks for your replies!
For now I have enough to read and to try out. If I need further assistance, I'll start another Thread.

Gregor

The-Amnesiac-Philosopher

Member

Registered: 2023-08-24

Posts: 429  

Re: [done][S] Keyboard-/trackpad-lock

Good deal! Good luck Gregors!

rdav

Member

Registered: 2017-06-30

Posts: 51  

Re: [done][S] Keyboard-/trackpad-lock

Hey The-Amnesiac-Philosopher

I just thought of something else...
I always make a "Shutdown" utility that includes that screen lock, but that's another post for another time.

looking forward to this script masterpeice for locking local box.

Having slock work with suspend + lid close would be handy

- r