Is my user password protected, and what does it protect against?

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  1. Posts : 63
    Windows 10 home
       #1

    Is my user password protected, and what does it protect against?


    Hello everyone

    I can't figure out, if my Windows user is really password protected.

    I am using Microsoft Windows 10 Home
    I have only 1 local user / admin

    If I shutdown PC, and turn on again, I don't have to enter password
    If I restart PC, I don't have to enter password

    If I Windows key + L / log off, I see my Windows user and have to enter password

    In Optins - Setting for logon - Password
    When I press change, it shows my user profile and asks for Current password

    1)
    Is my Windows user password protected?
    2)
    Having a password protected Windows user, does is protect against other devices / hackers on the network from getting access to my system / files?
    3)
    Having a password protected Windows user, does is protect against other devices / hackers through the internet from getting access to my system / files?

    Thanks in advance for replying

    Best regards
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 42,737
    Win 10 Pro (22H2) (2nd PC is 22H2)
       #2

    Hi, you presumably have done something like this to skip the login prompt:
    Sign in User Account Automatically at Windows 10 Startup

    Your account has a password, which is required in a number of circumstances, even if you were to set a pin.

    As to security, anyone with a tiny bit of knowledge can gain access to your files and folders whether you log in with a password, pin or facial recognition or not.

    Passwords simply protect you from someone casually logging in as you. Once you are logged in, anything allowed to execute has at least the same rights as you do.

    Real security is provided by encryption.

    And for interest:
    Turn On or Off Require Sign-in on Wakeup in Windows 10
      My Computers


  3. Posts : 16,784
    Windows 10 Home x64 Version 22H2 Build 19045.4170
       #3

    Emil,

    1 - Yes

    2 & 3 - Yes

    But, as dalchina, points out, nothing really provides effective protection against anybody with physical access to your computer if that individual has relevant skills unless you go as far as encrypting everything [for which Bitlocker is built into Windows 10 Pro].

    Individual MS Office files can also be password-protected. But how far you wish to go depends on you.
    - My Excel list of passwords & other sensitive information is password-protected [21 random-character password] and lives on a USB stick that is never connected to any computer / phone whilst it is connected to the internet.

    Denis
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 63
    Windows 10 home
    Thread Starter
       #4

    Further questions


    dalchina said:
    Your account has a password, which is required in a number of circumstances, even if you were to set a pin.

    As to security, anyone with a tiny bit of knowledge can gain access to your files and folders whether you log in with a password, pin or facial recognition or not.

    Passwords simply protect you from someone casually logging in as you. Once you are logged in, anything allowed to execute has at least the same rights as you do.
    "Your account has a password, which is required in a number of circumstances, even if you were to set a pin."

    Is this the same as if my user is password protected?

    "As to security, anyone with a tiny bit of knowledge can gain access to your files and folders whether you log in with a password, pin or facial recognition or not."

    Do you mean if they have physical access to my PC?

    Wont it be like an extra layer of security?

    - - - Updated - - -

    Try3 said:
    1 - Yes

    2 & 3 - Yes

    But, as dalchina, points out, nothing really provides effective protection against anybody with physical access to your computer if that individual has relevant skills unless you go as far as encrypting everything [for which Bitlocker is built into Windows 10 Pro].
    My concern / questions does not account for physical access to my PC, since it would require them to breakin.

    So if someone on my network would try to accesss my system, they would be met with having to enter the password for my Windows user?

    Same for, if they tried to access my system through the internet, they would be met with having to enter the password for my Windows user?
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 16,784
    Windows 10 Home x64 Version 22H2 Build 19045.4170
       #5

    EmilDK said:
    So if someone on my network would try to accesss my system, they would be met with having to enter the password for my Windows user?
    Same for, if they tried to access my system through the internet, they would be met with having to enter the password for my Windows user?
    Emil,

    I've already answered both those questions.
    Try3 said:
    2 & 3 - Yes


    And the introduction to this tutorial addresses your question about a PIN. A PIN is like having a shorthand form of your password that can only be used on your computer itself.
    Add a PIN to your Account - TenForumsTutorials
    And even if you set a PIN you still need to write your password down somewhere secure yet readily accessible because there will come a day when Windows forces you to use the password itself and you are likely to have forgotten it by then.

    Denis
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 42,737
    Win 10 Pro (22H2) (2nd PC is 22H2)
       #6

    Thank you so very much for your reply.



    "Your account has a password, which is required in a number of circumstances, even if you were to set a pin."
    Is this the same as if my user is password protected?
    Your question as stated doesn't really make a lot of sense to me I'm afraid.
    It's one and the same password, if that's what you're asking.

    "As to security, anyone with a tiny bit of knowledge can gain access to your files and folders whether you log in with a password, pin or facial recognition or not."
    Do you mean if they have physical access to my PC? Wont it be like an extra layer of security?
    a. Yes
    b. Already answered. Stops people passing by casually accessing your PC if not already logged in.
      My Computers


  7. Posts : 63
    Windows 10 home
    Thread Starter
       #7

    Try3 said:
    And the introduction to this tutorial addresses your question about a PIN. A PIN is like having a shorthand form of your password that can only be used on your computer itself.
    Add a PIN to your Account - TenForumsTutorials
    And even if you set a PIN you still need to write your password down somewhere secure yet readily accessible because there will come a day when Windows forces you to use the password itself and you are likely to have forgotten it by then.
    Denis
    When I wanted to add a pin, change account security, I was met with having to enter my Windows user password. When having to enter my Windows user password is required to change account security settings, does that mean =
    That my Windows user is password protected?
    In the sense, that it protects against intruders over the network and internet?

    - - - Updated - - -

    dalchina said:
    Thank you so very much for your reply.
    Your question as stated doesn't really make a lot of sense to me I'm afraid.
    It's one and the same password, if that's what you're asking.
    When I wanted to add a pin, change account security, I was met with having to enter my Windows user password. When having to enter my Windows user password is required to change account security settings, does that mean =
    That my Windows user is password protected?
    In the sense, that it protects against intruders over the network and internet?

    dalchina said:
    "As to security, anyone with a tiny bit of knowledge can gain access to your files and folders whether you log in with a password, pin or facial recognition or not."

    a. Yes
    b. Already answered. Stops people passing by casually accessing your PC if not already logged in.
    I meant, if a Windows user password would add another layer of security, if someone tried to access my system over the Network and over the Internet?
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 42,737
    Win 10 Pro (22H2) (2nd PC is 22H2)
       #8
      My Computers


  9. Posts : 16,784
    Windows 10 Home x64 Version 22H2 Build 19045.4170
       #9

    EmilDK said:
    When I wanted to add a pin, change account security, I was met with having to enter my Windows user password. When having to enter my Windows user password is required to change account security settings, does that mean =
    That my Windows user is password protected?
    In the sense, that it protects against intruders over the network and internet?
    Emil,

    You keep asking the same question time after time.
    Try3 said:
    2 & 3 - Yes
    Denis
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 63
    Windows 10 home
    Thread Starter
       #10

    dalchina said:
    Thank you for posting that
    I had already seen it before

    But it states nothing about Windows user password and how it protects against attack via the network or internet?

    - - - Updated - - -

    Try3 said:
    Emil,

    You keep asking the same question time after time.


    Denis
    I just want to make sure, that understand 100 % eachother

    The example i describe:
    When I wanted to add a pin, change account security, I was met with having to enter my Windows user password. When having to enter my Windows user password is required to change account security settings
    Does that mean my that Windows user is password protected?

    Big thanks for your many replies and helping me out
      My Computer


 

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