RE: XP (SP2) user passwords

Windows passwords can't be cracked that easily. Steps to prevent this are:
1. Scold them, this is obviously unacceptable behavior. Let them know that
this is not just wrong, it's also ILLEGAL, and can lead to jail time.
2. Banks have to keep dishonest people out too. To further prevent them
from getting on your computer, physical security of the machine will have to
be on your side.
2.a Get a case lock for your computer, so it can't be opened up.
2.b Get into your computer's BIOS and put a password on it. Make it a
startup password if you don't want them on the computer at all, or an access
password to ensure that they can't change these settings (The case lock is so
they can't open it up and clear these settings)
2.c Remove any bootable devices from the boot sequence besides your hard
drive (Most password crackers work by having to boot to the media itself)
3. Time to secure windows, your children should be using a different account
than you, hopefully.
3.a If you're using Windows XP Home, please reply back, and I'll change the
details so you can use this information, however, it appears you're using XP
MCE.
3.b Right Click on My Computer, and click on the box that reads Manage...
3.c There is a tab that reads, local users and groups.
3.d Ensure that you have an account for everyone listed there. Now right
click on your administrator account, and set the password. You should also
have an account for yourself, set that password as well. You need to ensure
that your children's accounts are not administrators, so double click their
names, and remove all groups that they belong to except "Users"

This should harden the computer enough that they shouldn't be able to just
pop on and off without a good deal of trouble. In fact, it'd leave me
stumped for quite a while, especially with a case lock on it, just don't
forget your passwords, or lose the key.
---
Scott


"Douglas" wrote:

My teens crack our XP administrator password with ease using safemode
startup, or downloading software which cracks it. What's the point of
passwords if it's this easy? Can I prevent this? --

Confused old guy
.

Relevant Pages