New
#450
When I first set up the PIN, it told me that PINs are the hardest of all to crack; I vaguely remember that it said (I think) it's on your computer and nowhere else. I've slept since then, so . . .
PINs are so much more convenient, and since this is a test computer, I don't do anything extraordinarily special on it, so no worries about being hacked.
What any hacker won't find are my data files, since I unplug the external hard drive.
Hmmm, if the PIN won't let you see your networked devices, I guess the hacker can't see them either? :)
Before a hacker can get into your computer, they have to get through your firewall. The PIN or Password is useful if there's more than one user on a PC or if you are in the office and leave your PC after work hours. Or if you have a laptop that you bring with you everyday. A password will prevent someone from getting into your data if you lost your laptop. I've been using a PC at home for over 10 years without a password.
On my personal computers I never used passwords to BOOT but banking and other very personal stuff are protected with strong passwords not allowed to be remembered on the computer. For getting in the system from outside, PIN is yet another layer of protection, they would still have to deal with password even if they broke the PIN.