XP Password Question

That depends on the password. For example: if the password is "secret" then not very long, but if it were "1qwhtc4h7"  (or similar) then longer.

Longer? What do you mean? I said How secure. Like what the chances are of it being changed. Or hacked. Whatever comes first.

I mean if i install a program,what are the chances of the password being changed? Not if someone gets infront of the comp and trys different passwords. Thanks.

 Hello,

The Windows XP logon password is not a great way of protection.  It helps, but it can be bypassed if someone wanted to use your computer.  If you want to try to secure your computer make a hard password for someone to guess (x74hfnr8).  A combination of letters and numbers.  Also, be sure to have a active firewall, a up-to-date virus scanner and spyware removal program.  Three programs could make your computer more secure. 

www.lavasoftusa.com - Spyware Removal (Ad-aware) ~ There is a free version of Ad-aware.

www.zonelabs - Firewall (ZoneAlarm) ~ There is a free version of the firewall.

Good Luck,

INTERNET2000

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@netcruzer wrote:
I mean if i install a program,what are the chances of the password being changed? Not if someone gets infront of the comp and trys different passwords. Thanks.

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Well that depends on the program. No reputable program should mess with your password - unless of course it is a password changing program. Is this a specific program?

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@netcruzer wrote:
Longer? What do you mean? I said How secure. Like what the chances are of it being changed. Or hacked. Whatever comes first.

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Well to change the account password you have to have it to start with, crack it or bypass it by changing it (the password) from an account with administrator privileges. So unless you disclose the password (and truly only have just one active account on the machine), then it will need to be cracked (or hacked as you put it). Hence the value of a password which is not a "dictionary" word and which contains both digits and letters and will generally take longer to crack.

As for how secure, it's all relative, no system is impregnable, you can make it easier or harder for someone to gain access depending how much effort you are prepared to make. As INTERNET2000 said (in another post on this thread) security on a computer is down to more than just passwords. However your original question was specifically regarding passwords - which is what I answered. You are probably more secure than the average user since you are aware of the risk and you've made the effort to ask questions and hence are more likely to have made some effort to protect your system.  I'm afraid that quantifying the likelyhood of security failure requires far more information than you've given (or are likely to want to give!).

 

 

 

Not any specific program. Just any in general.