Screen saver password

  • Thread starter Thread starter L.A.
  • Start date Start date
L

L.A.

Hi,

I'm thinking of upgrading to Windows XP but I have some
questions about the screen saver:

a) If the screen saver is password protected and I didn't
know the password, can I guess the password and type in
various passwords?

b) Would the computer freeze me out after a number of
attempts at guessing the password?

c) Does the computer record my attempts at guessing the
password?

d) I've heard the screen saver password is the same as the
login-in password. Is this true?

The reason why I'm asking these questions is because I've
had some trouble in the past with my little brother
guessing the password on my screen saver.

L.A.
 
"L.A." said in
a) If the screen saver is password protected and I didn't
know the password, can I guess the password and type in
various passwords?
Click to expand...

The same for you login password or the password for anything. Nothing
stops you from guessing.
b) Would the computer freeze me out after a number of
attempts at guessing the password?
Click to expand...

If that policy is enabled.
c) Does the computer record my attempts at guessing the
password?
Click to expand...

If auditing is enabled to record login attempts (for both succeed and
failure). Why do you care that login attempts are audited if it really
is your computer?
d) I've heard the screen saver password is the same as the
login-in password. Is this true?
Yes.

The reason why I'm asking these questions is because I've
had some trouble in the past with my little brother
guessing the password on my screen saver.
Click to expand...

If your little brother can guess your passwords then you have admitted
that you use extremely weak passwords. The shorter the string length
and if it is composed of a word or two then obviously the easier it is
to guess at.

Don't just rely on the screen saver password to protect you. When you
walk away, the screen saver won't activate until whenever it is
configured to timeout after some idle period. That means your computer
is still wide open for anyone to use. Hit Win+L to immediately lockup
your computer without having to logoff.

You might also consider configure the power options to use the power
button to put your computer into hibernate mode. Then hit the power
button and the computer shuts off but it will startup faster because it
simply reads the hibernate file to restore the memory image as it was.
Then enable the system password in BIOS. Little bro would have to power
up, guess the BIOS password to continue the bootup, and then have to
guess the password to get into the current session. Just make the
passwords different and little bro then has to guess at two of them.
 
*Vanguard* said:
If your little brother can guess your passwords then you have admitted
that you use extremely weak passwords. The shorter the string length
and if it is composed of a word or two then obviously the easier it is
to guess at.
Click to expand...


To add to that. If passwords get changed or compromised, that is where
the reserve, emergency account called Administrator comes in. Boot,
hitting F8 as BIOS info goes to black; take Safe Mode, There will then
be an icon for Administrator on the Welcome screen. (If not, hit
CTL-ALT-DEL twice and enter the explicit name
Administrator
and leave the password blank unless you have set one. You *ought* to
set a complex password for it, and keep a note of it safely locked away
where you - and only you - can get at it if need be)

In that, Start - Run the line
control userpasswords2
where you can select any account name and Reset Password
Note that this can also be run in any user account with admin
privileges, and can set the password of Administrator; so do *not* give
little brothers admin privilege
 
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