Abstract: A technique is disclosed for preventing un-authorized attachment of computer peripherals to a computer or computer network. Illustrative embodiments comprise two mating keyed-adapters between network/host computer ports and peripheral ports. One or both adapters can contain hardware for enabling and disabling communications to and from peripherals under software control from a host computer. The peripheral-side adapter contains a first hardware for storing a unique identifier corresponding to the attached peripheral. The host computer retrieves this stored identifier and compares it to a database of authorized identifiers. If a match is found, then communication to and from the peripheral is enabled either in a second hardware within the adapter or software within the host computer. If a match is not found, then communication to and from the peripheral is not permitted.

Abstract: A security box for retaining personal items includes a tray portion having a tray rear wall and a tray side wall, a cover portion having a front wall for removably engaging and closing the tray portion, a mechanism for removably interconnecting the tray portion and the cover portion, and camouflage elements making the security box appear to be an item other than a security box. The camouflage elements preferably include at least one protrusion having the general appearance of a button for a conventional alarm control unit protruding from an exterior face of the security box. The security box is preferably made of gray or black plastic. The security box preferably additionally includes thumb gripping ridges on the outer face of the cover front wall for increased gripping friction during opening and closing of the security box.