Windows XP: Working With Passwords - Part 2

Tighten security by learning how to lockdown your computer. Dave Cook explains...

A strong logon password is essential for maintaining a high-level of security, especially if you have to share your computer with other users. But exactly what is a 'strong' logon password?

For starters, your user account password should be at least eight (though preferably ten) characters long. You should never use your birthday as a logon password, and neither should you use the name of your pet, your mother's maiden name, nor indeed any name or number that can in any way, shape, or form be linked to you personally.

Steer clear of the word PASSWORD, and don't use simple keyboard patterns such as QWERTY or 12345. Never re-use old passwords, never write them down, and never use the same password on more than one application. You should also avoid the obvious. It's all very well creating a password that's easy to remember, but bear in mind that same password can be just as easily rumbled by someone who knows a little bit about you.

Time For A Change

For added security, your password should be changed regularly. By default, Windows XP requires that you change your password every 42 days. But you can actually change it any time you wish. To change your password manually, open the Control Panel, and click User Accounts. Select your account, click Change my password and follow the onscreen instructions.

Alternatively, you can set your password (or, as the administrator, the passwords of other account holders) to expire automatically after any number of days between 1 and 999. Or, you can specify that a password never expires by setting the number of days to 0. To determine the exact number of days, open the Control Panel, click Administrative Tools, and select Local Security Policy. Click the Password Policy folder in the left pane, and then select the policy you wish to change in the right pane.

While browsing through the Local Security Settings you'll notice a number of additional options. For example, the Password History option lets you designate the number of unique new passwords that have to be associated with a user account before an old password can be re-used. In truth, though, most of the options available from here can be regarded as slightly overkill to most home users.

Spending A Penny

It's all very well trying to stop others from logging on to your user account, but how do you maintain security if you have to leave your computer running while you zoom off to spend a penny? Actually, Windows XP provides several ways in which you can quickly lockdown your computer, thereby securing your account for short periods while you're busy elsewhere.

One solution, assuming your account is already password-protected, is to press the Windows key (the key sporting the Microsoft Windows logo) together with the L key. This combined act will deposit you back to the Windows logon screen - having first suspended any programs that were running immediately prior to the deed. Upon your return, simply enter your password to go back to whatever you were doing before lockdown.

Another option is to password-protect your screen saver. This almost has the same effect as the action described above, since it too can prevent prying eyes from accessing your account while you're away. The main downside here, however, is that your account won't actually lockdown until the screen saver kicks in.

To enable the screen saver password feature, right click any spare area of the desktop and then click Properties via the pop-up menu. From the Display Properties window, select the Screen Saver tab and, after ensuring a screen saver has been selected, place a checkmark in the box next to On resume, password protect.

Wait For it...

Finally, look at the amount of minutes it takes for the screen saver to kick in. You can reduce or increase this period via the Wait box. When you're finished, click OK to close the Display Properties window. The password protect screen saver feature will now be enabled.

 

Dave Cook