User passwords in XP 2

[TrojanSquirrel]

I had my work laptop stolen today, so as you can imagine I have closed the door on my data after the bytes have bolted!

The laptop itself was only a cheap second-hand tosh to manage the network and design a few websites on - general office/network work. The data is worth more than the hardware to me.

As a result I have had to change all my passwords on all the servers at work, my home computers and all the websites that I have to log into.... what a pain.

One interesting fault/issue I have discovered with my computers at home is that I always often the '@' symbol in passwords for websites and tonight I changed one of my user accounts on XP to include '@' in the password.... Not a problem until you try and log back in again with that user account and XP thinks that you are using a US layout keyboard! I presume that XP doesn't identify that I am using a UK layout until it boots up, and before that defaults to the US layout.

As a UK user this could provide a greater level of security if your password were to be cracked by someone that has stolen your PC/Laptop as they would try and input the '@' in the UK position rather than above the '2' as it is in the US.

I'm going to run with it, as I like the quirky nature of this particular issue and if it does stop some thief getting into my data.....

I like stumbling on strange Windows issues!

 

[tfg13]

Have you ever considered using the "character map" in your password as well? A 4 digit number (pressing the alt key and typing in the 4 digit number representation using the number keys above the letters (won't work with the numberpad)) is a lot harder to crack than it's worth. I've used this for about 2 years now, and have yet to find a brute force program that can figure this out. Food for thought. If you would like more of an explanation, let me know.

 

[TrojanSquirrel]

Thanks for that.

Great idea.

 

[TrojanSquirrel]

I got the Laptop back today! Local CID picked the muppet up the night of the breakin, and the laptop was in the boot of the stolen car he was driving....

Noting down serial numbers and the MAC address before it goes again! Also will register with Toshiba.

A result!

 

[gbaughma]

NeoR77V:

Wow.... amazing that you got it back. Maybe look at some passwording/encryption as well for your files?



Just my 2¢

"In order to start solving a problem, one must first identify its owner." --Me
--Greg

 

[twoody54]

Keep in mind something like ERD Commander makes your password a moot point if someone physically has your machine. While you SHOULD do everything you can to prevent people from cracking into it, if they want in bad enough they will get in. Strong passwords and encrypting your important files is a good place to start on a laptop...