Windows password / OS on two partitions..

[Bungral]

Ok so since I've become Mr. Paranoid after my hotmail and ebay were hacked the other day I've slapped a password on Windows Vista. I had a thought earlier though... If an OS was installed onto my spare partition or even onto the main partition with a different name would my files be accessible without entering the password.

I imagine they would be as it wouldn't be loading the main OS... In which case doesn't it make passwording your OS totally pointless?

 

[nathan]

the idea of putting a password on your OS is to stop people from logging into it, ofcourse there are always going to be ways round it. What the human invents, the human can uninvent (hmmm, actually i'm going to patent that saying!!)

If your system is formatted in ntfs, you can right click on any folder or file and set the security permissions for it. These files can still be accessed if you take your hard drive, plug in it another pc as a slave and take "overship" of the files.

If your pc is at home a user password should be fine (make sure your files are set so only you can access them). Main thing to watch out for is your firewalls. Check your routers firewall and make sure you havent any old port forwards you no longer need. Make sure windows firewall is enabled. (always good to know if somethings trying to access the outside world from within your pc). Finally make sure AV/Spyware is installed and up to date.

 

[Bungral]

I was thinking more along the lines of if the computer were to be stolen then installing a second OS would give access to any passwords stored on the main OS.. I.e. msn password. If saved of course.

And before anyone says it, yeah I know the best way would be not to save any passwords.

 

[Rastalovich]

U mean msn password - as in - when u goto msn and it automagically signs u in ?

 

[Bungral]

U mean msn password - as in - when u goto msn and it automagically signs u in ?

Yup..

 

[Rastalovich]

Well, I`ll be totally honest with u, I think or believe I could do it without too much trouble.

Although stuff like msn I`m sure can be linked to ur login like a passport type thing. So unless it`s u that`s logged in, the msn won`t automagically sign in.

 

[Bungral]

Well, I`ll be totally honest with u, I think or believe I could do it without too much trouble.

Although stuff like msn I`m sure can be linked to ur login like a passport type thing. So unless it`s u that`s logged in, the msn won`t automagically sign in.

Well yeah i'm pretty sure I could get to passwords.. also if any were saved in Firefox it would be pretty easy.

So yeah was just a question I knew the answer to but just wanted to make sure.. Only sure way to keep passwords safe is not to save them anywhere.

 

[Rastalovich]

Well there are people who save a file called "passwords.txt" on their desktops.

^.~

I`d prefer them to save a file called "passwords.rar" or something and unvisibly password it.

Thing is, pretty much any form of securing sheet on a pc can be broken. And if some1 can`t do it, there are tools out there. Lots of recovery firms have tools to assist users whos encrypted something, then lost the key or similar.

What u gotta think about also is, the average user won`t have a clue. The average scumbag theif will have even less of a clue.

 

[Bungral]

Well there are people who save a file called "passwords.txt" on their desktops.

^.~

I`d prefer them to save a file called "passwords.rar" or something and unvisibly password it.

Thing is, pretty much any form of securing sheet on a pc can be broken. And if some1 can`t do it, there are tools out there. Lots of recovery firms have tools to assist users whos encrypted something, then lost the key or similar.

What u gotta think about also is, the average user won`t have a clue. The average scumbag theif will have even less of a clue.

Yeah you're not wrong about a lot of people wouldn't have a clue and to be honest it wouldn't take long for you to notice your PC has been stolen.. All I'm thinking is enough protection to give yourself time to get on another computer or phone and change the passwords yourself before any swine can get in and hijack them.

I guess the windows password is a start... then just whatever else ya can be bothered with.

 

[Rastalovich]

If I was really concerned, u know what I`d do ?

Link the msn/hotmail with this passport to ur pc`s login/password - theoretically, as I understand it, the auto login features are then semi linked somehow. If u don`t login the pc, u can`t passport onto the sign-ins. ?? I think.

THEN, create a DOC file in Word or something, write in it something u`d like to say to some1 who stole ur pc. Make it a fair size of file.

Save it as PASSWORDS.DOC.

Zip the DOC file with a password, allowing the viewing of the Zip contents without the password. (so u can see the filenames and not open them)

Then do the same with RAR or 7z or whatever. Or both. Don`t make them easy passwords either. And they don`t need to be memorable as u don`t need to open it urself afterwards

Put the end result, PASSWORDS.RAR, in ur MyDocuments folder.

In this case, if any1 did nick ur pc, and remotest of remote chances they know some `tools`, they find the file and can spend weeks or months breaking the password in each level of archive - only to read what u want them to read

I`ll tell u seriously, any1 who spends that long to unpack a file will be more pished off than u ever could be by having ur pc nicked

 

[Pseudonym]

I recall a prog that might be useful. i think its called "The laptop lock".

Google agrees. http://www.thelaptoplock.com/

Its a remote encryption, deletion, tracking program. pretty sure its freeware, and is probably safe.