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Password Security?


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#1
fuoleum

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A friend of mine was recently burgled and his PC was taken. Now it had never occurred to me before, but if that happened to me, then all my banking website "favourites" including Norton Password Manager remembered passwords will be available to the thief.

Is there a way of completely locking my PC from opening with a password, so no-one but me can even turn it on without formatting? If not, what is the next best thing?

Thanks
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#2
piper

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Setting a password in BIOS will do that, I believe.

Do you not have passwords already assigned for each user account?
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#3
fuoleum

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I don't have any user accounts - there's only me and my wife that use it. We turn it on and then the next thing I have to do is double click on the program I want to run.

If I set a password in the BIOS will someone just be able to reset that and then boot up as normal?
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#4
fleamailman

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The best thing is not to leave the password details in the computer, it is better to think that there is no 100% way to protecting data since you only have to follow the progress of hacking worldwide to see that there isn't but there are ways to make it very hard.

- one can password the bios
- one can password both the account and the folder
- one can make the folder invisible(with neither icon nor text)
- one can place the folder in the middle of the xp systems files
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#5
piper

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What operation system are you using?

Any password can be hacked, given time and the right tools. It just depends on which way you want to go.

I agree with fleamailman. And one key to security is setting really good passwords. Don't use your last name, birthday, pet's name, etc. Try to make your passwords at least 8 characters long and utilize letters, numbers, and special characters (like @ [shift-2]).
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#6
fleamailman

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I don't know if this belongs here but it's fun and can be useful

to make an invisible folder(no text, no icon)

- make a folder on your screen,
(don't care about the name)
- right hand click and choose: properties
- click tab: customise
- click: change icon
(change icon for new folder folder appears)
- look for the padlock icon
- click on the blanc space right of the padlock icon
- click: ok
- click: apply
(folder is invisible but text remains)
- hightlight the text of the folder
- press and hold down the keyborad button: alt
- type with number pad: 255
- release the keyboard button: alt
- click icon to set

[footnote: one is supposed to tick in my computer the folder options to 'hide extensions for known type of file' which I have not done]
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#7
dsenette

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a bios password would be a good idea if you're really worried

but password protecting your user account (even if you just have one) is a major step for security as well as making sure that the TRUE administrator account has a password as well

http://security.utex...P_and_2000.html

even though it's a pain in the butt i suggest using a strong password...
a strong password is generally accepted as one that's:

a minnimum of 8 characters long
is alpha numeric (letters and numbers)
contains at least one special charachter (!@$%*?/ etc..)
and is as close to random as you can remember

here are some tips for strong passwords:
http://www.microsoft...y/password.mspx
http://www.utexas.ed...rds/choose.html
http://en.wikipedia....ssword_strength


place to test your password
http://www.securitys...ls/password.php

a BUNCH of random password generators
http://www.google.co...sword generator
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