Skip to content

FrostLock v1.3.0 - USB Key Mode, Emergency PIN Recovery, Lock-screen background image etc.

Choose a tag to compare

View all tags
@FurtherSecrets24680 FurtherSecrets24680 released this 27 Oct 17:54
· 7 commits to main since this release
v1.3.0
1db60d3

What's new

  • USB key mode: Watch a selected removable drive and choose whether plugging it in or removing it starts a Strict freeze. The opposite drive action releases it; Stop watching in the app or tray also stops monitoring and releases a USB-triggered freeze. USB volume serials are a convenience trigger, not secure authentication. FrostLock’s start and unlock hotkeys are disabled in USB key mode.
  • Emergency phrase for PIN lock: Configure a long phrase as a deliberate recovery option if you forget your PIN. It has its own attempt throttling and can be entered from the PIN lock screen.
  • Command-line controls: Start, release, inspect, or exit FrostLock from a terminal, lock the Windows session, and set per-freeze mode, duration, arm delay, or sound. Commands can reach an already-running instance; --help, --version, and --status provide terminal output.
  • Download and install updates: When a newer GitHub release is available, About can download and launch its installer, with progress and basic installer-file validation.
  • Lock-screen background image: Choose an image to display behind the lock-screen text, or clear it to return to the plain cover.
  • Locking-mode comparison: Open a comparison table for Gentle, Strict, Hard, PIN, and USB key modes from the main window.

Improvements

  • Unlock shortcuts can require a configurable hold of up to 5 seconds, reducing accidental releases. The arm-delay countdown can be cancelled with Esc.
  • PIN and emergency-phrase cooldowns escalate after repeated failed rounds and persist across restarts. The lock screen reports attempts remaining and cooldown time.
  • PIN and emergency-phrase hashes are wrapped with Windows DPAPI. Settings exports omit these secrets; importing settings preserves the secrets already configured on the PC.
  • Settings are saved atomically with a backup fallback, helping protect settings from interrupted or corrupt writes.
  • Hard mode now has an independent timer and watchdog release path if FrostLock stops responding. Crash handlers also request input release.
  • PIN locks cannot be released through the tray, main window, CLI, or app exit; use the PIN screen or configured emergency phrase. Tray controls reflect whether release is allowed.
  • The update screen reports download progress and errors, and prevents starting an update during an active freeze.
  • USB watching can be stopped from the tray. The Hotkeys shortcut opens Settings at the Hotkeys card with the unlock field focused.
  • README documentation now covers USB key mode and its shortcut behavior, along with the recent settings and lock-screen changes.

Technical Changes

  • Version bumped to 1.3.0; the app now targets .NET 10 and Setup offers the .NET 10 Desktop Runtime when needed.
  • Added Services/UsbDriveService.cs, Services/InstanceChannel.cs, Services/ConsoleBridge.cs, Models/UnlockAttempt.cs, and the mode-comparison window.
  • Extended settings and overlay state for USB mode, image backgrounds, lockout persistence, emergency phrases, unlock-hold timing, and locking Windows after a freeze.
  • Rebuilt the framework-dependent win-x64 installer: FrostLock-Setup-1.3.0.exe (about 4 MB).
Assets 3
Loading