Is the ThinkPad build in ThinkVantage Client Security any good?

Is the ThinkPad build in ThinkVantage Client Security any good?
The X61 I got do not have the fingerprint reader.
So, is this ThinkVantage Client chip just add a password security?

Please let me hear all your comments before I activate mine.

 

Here's some information on it if it helps: http://www.pc.ibm.com/us/think/thinkvantagetech/security.html

 

I read the same thing too.

But, other than annoying password, its just another password block, right?

It works pretty close to another software password block. I grant that thief will not be able to replace another harddrive and make it work.

However, as far as I am concern, what's stolen is gone. Thief does not take time to stop stealing your laptop because it has hardware password block. They steal it anyway.

 

Personally, I didn't like Client Security. I don't use any password managers and what not. It just seemed like unnecessary security to me, plus one of its feature causes slow IE startup time. That's just what I did though, I'm sure there are people who find it useful.

 

thanks, Arkit3kt. So, this Client Security is just another password then. Then, I will chuck it.

Thank you for the straight talk.

 

I have it and use it all the time. i love how it stores all of your website passwords with a single finger swipe!

 

But I do not have the fingerprint reader on this X61.

So, my ThinkVangtage Client Security is just password block, correct?

 

And a password manager.

 

If you have the fingerprint reader, do you need to use Thinkvantage Client security to use it?

 

Fingerprint software is only part of the ThinkVantage Client. It has other features too, refer to my first post in this thread.

 

"I have it and use it all the time. i love how it stores all of your website passwords with a single finger swipe!"

Please read what I am about to write carefully.

I had a 3000 with fingerprint reader. Early on I noticed spikes in cpu activity and the fan turning on and off. I normally run with a performance monitor running and noticed large spikes of cpu activity on and off, on and off when I had a webrowser on. This was what was causing the fan to turn on and off. After spending $100 with lenovo support, it was determined that this activity was coming from the webbrowser password detector. I immediately deleted it and the problem stopped. That software on the 3000 is not by lenovo.

When I got my t61p, I immediately tested for that condition and noticed the lenovo to be doing similar but it wasn't quite as bad. I deleted that webbrowser password manager too.

You won't notice this unless you run with a performance manager and a webbrowser up. That password manager is expensive in many ways. It can wear a battery down to nub. It is just not needed.

Those people doing clean installs won't see this unless they reinstall the password manager system which seems a little silly because why are they then doing a clean install. But what I would recommend is the immediate removal of this piece of software but it is not good for a system in many ways. It requires more use of the fan which is mechnaical and is also really bad when on battery power because it requires both more fan and cpu.

 

thanks for your response renee. I do leave the performance monitor on many times. I do also notice the spikes in CPU usage. I always figured this was from vista istelf so I just let it be....so you are saying that the password manager is causing this? thanks for your help

 

I recently purchased X61 system and did clean XP installtion couple days ago. And I installed the password manager because I have fingerprint reader. I really like the way that it detects and submits it automatically on the websites.

I opened up the performance monitor and went to my online bank using IE (which the password manager supposes to fill out logon information automatically). I saw that the process went up to 45% and it dropped. I am thinking that IE cause the spike, not the password manager. I tested on couple websites that I saved my password on the password manager. No problem at all.

I am using Client Security v8.0 now. I don't know how the previous version behave. But for me, I don't think that I have problem with it.

 

"are saying that the password manager is causing this?"

Yes.

The spiking is not caused by IE; but the password manager that is scanning the current webbrowser page. The spiking only occurs when IE is up and the cpu time is being used by the password manager process and that makes sense. It has to read page in the webbrowser to find out what there's when you need a password. That's not a feature that I want or need. As a matter of fact, it's feature that I really want to get rid of as soon as I encounter it.

 

who really cares if your cpu is spiking? I mean it is a little bit of extra electricity, but that is it...right? if we have a powerful cpu, let it be abused

 

Here's the problem. In my 3000 it was causing a lot of fan cycling. Fans wear out especially when run in an on off patern. By virtue of the fact that you are running both more fan and more cpu that takes more battery when on battery power.

This was not a small effect it was saturating my cpu on the 3000 every 2 seconds for about one second and it was quite pronounced. My purchased my fast cpu to use it as I need it, not for it to be used on a "feature" for which I have no need.

 

oh ok, my spikes arn't that severe and do not cause any delay for me as a user. I do notice that my computer idles around ~20% and spikes up to around 75% 1-2x minute or so just for a second