----- Original Message -----
From: "Tony Lowe" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Friday, July 15, 2005 8:49 AM
Subject: XP Home Account lockout
My 10 year old nephew made it painfully obvious yesterday how much of a
short coming this is in XP Home with his unimpeded attempts to get into my
daughter's limited account. True, she had a simple password set, but
locking the account out after 3 or 4 failed attempts would have prevented
it. Or at least slowed him down considerably.
We computer shops are in a position very similar to that of a locksmith. We
know how to break in or get in but can not share this with our customers.
A day ago a customer had me show her how to password protect her log in name
in Windows XP. I explained to her that many kids know a work around to this.
I told her I would take her level of protection to a higher level if the
normal level did not work, but that if she forgot her password, I would have
to resort to even a higher level to get back into Windows. She was happy
using the first level of protection for now.
I assume my stance of doing things routine, normal and by the book etc. is
working. In all my 7 years I have encountered very little porn on customer's
computers and no illegal porn. I avoid even discussing things such as
hacking, snooping, overclocking etc. and keep things "stock" as they call
normal in the automotive industry. Rarely do I have to work around a lost
BIOS password as most can not prove they own the computer.
I believe that kids who break into anything should be physically prevented
from access to those things where possible, such as computers. There is
nothing we technicians can learn that kids can't learn better as they have
more time to spend on evil. The same reasons are why those who commit petty
crimes and get locked up have plenty time and instruction to learn the most
evil methods of crime and become very proficient at it.
I am happy that hacking or gaining access represents far less than 1% of my
duties as a computer technician.
Chuck
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