Re: Can't eliminate Windows Messenger icon from Notification Area.

Thanks again John,

Your thoughts on using the log in for all users regardless of type of
privileges they have makes good sense.

I can certainly understand (now that is), why my google search
produced hundreds of hits with instructions on how to get around the
log in, but almost nothing on the importance of maintaining the log in
as a security issue.

I can't say I'm unhappy to hear that most users are oblivious to the
possible problems associated with lax security. After all, if a hacker
finds 99.9 percent of the online systems completely susceptible to
attack, he/she is much less likely to go after mine! So, I'm not at
all unhappy that others chose to operate in that manner, if you catch
my drift::>.

My brother in law who is even more security conscious than I am had
been led to believe that the log in only protected him from
unauthorized access via the kb though...since he doesn't let the PC
out of his sight, he hasn't been requiring himself to log in.

I thought the password log in to be the last doorway to the system
(after the firewall is breeched).

I do make the family members use real passwords (capitol letters,
lowercase, punctuation and no single word or real word passwords
allowed). We don't have anything on our system that is overly
valuable, but maintain the security to minimize the threat of the
system being commandeered and used to launch attacks on other systems
via the internet.

I just noticed someone has a stand alone gun safe with fingerprint
recognition, but they aren't common in the computer world yet-would be
nice to have a fingerprint recognition system! Program it with me and
my family members fingerprints, and have it automatically log on to
the member who's print is recognized! Maybe someday soon::>

Regarding the speed of the boot up with the splash screen gone.....I
did time it, and it does boot faster. I didn't double check it, so
perhaps I made an error. I won't bother to undo it just to confirm
it's quicker-so we leave the faster boot up issue as a 'maybe' I guess
and call it good.

Thanks so much for your honesty and help-it's much appreciated.

Ari



Glad you found my site useful.

I agree that the lack of user name and password can cause a serious security
breach. But no matter how many time you bang on about security, the average
user of XP has the opinion that security is for businesses only.

My inbox is regularly full with questions asking how to get rid of the
inconvenient login screen.
.

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