Re: Loss of computer - how much does the password protect?

inquirer tablet pc wrote:
In case of loss/theft of a computer, to what extent does the
password (the one when you start the pc and the one when you log
onto xp) protect the data? i.e. how difficult is it for someone who
does not have the passowrd to access the data on the harddisk?

A password is *not* protection in itself.
If the password is connected with data encryption - then there is some level
of protection.

The long/short of it - if someone who has any clue what they are doing (or
any clue how to utilize google) gets their hands on a computer for a bit of
time (physical access to the system, unheeded) - and the only protection on
said system is the logon password scheme... I would expect all information
on the machine to be opened to them in less than 20 minutes to an hour
(depending on which clue they had and how prepared they were.)

--
Shenan Stanley
MS-MVP
--
How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html


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