Password Conundrum in XP

[Xiahou]

They make Linux boot discs that can change 2000/XP passwords. It's been awhile, but I've successfully used one before.

[R'as al Ghul]

Interesting how safe WinXP is.
Why bother with passwords at all?

[Husar]

Why would anyone need a password in Windows anyway? I'd rather use a BIOS password but from what I know these can be cicumvented easily as well. Locking the PC physically is the safest I guess.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Now I'm waiting for whacker or someone else to tell me what an irresponsible, stupid and danger-loving computer user I am.

[Xiahou]

Why would anyone need a password in Windows anyway? I'd rather use a BIOS password but from what I know these can be cicumvented easily as well. Locking the PC physically is the safest I guess.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Now I'm waiting for whacker or someone else to tell me what an irresponsible, stupid and danger-loving computer user I am.

Passwords are a fundamental aspect of safe computing, but there isn't much someone can't do to your PC if they're given enough alone time together.

A password can help keep someone from coming in across 'a series of tubes' (also known as the Internet) but if they have physical, unsupervised access passwords can be circumvented- easily, in the case of Windows.

[CrossLOPER]

Passwords are a fundamental aspect of safe computing, but there isn't much someone can't do to your PC if they're given enough alone time together.

A password can help keep someone from coming in across 'a series of tubes' (also known as the Internet) but if they have physical, unsupervised access passwords can be circumvented- easily, in the case of Windows.

I can find a program capable of disabling your password in a pinch. If a person is truly dedicated to digging through your stuff, he/she will get it. Just pointing that out.

AtPG:

How did you misspell your password twice?????

[Xiahou]

I can find a program capable of disabling your password in a pinch. If a person is truly dedicated to digging through your stuff, he/she will get it. Just pointing that out.

That's my whole point.

[Whacker]

@ Husar - You are a horribly irresponsible computer user and should cease all pc related activities immediately. Thank you. (You'd also be better off setting an HDD password)

@ Crossloper - It's possible, I've done it more than once. You're working fast, your hands are off by a key, not paying too much attention. Just goes to prove that when doing critical admin work you need to sllooowwww ddoowwnnn and be careful.

Xiahou is certainly correct, password usage IS fundamental to security. It's also a fine line, too leineint and people will make up passwords like "12345" (luggage??), too harsh and people will write down passwords on post-it notes no matter what your policy is. Our corporate policy is change them every 90 days, and you can't re-use a password for 5 intervals, which hasn't been too bad for most of us. Truly worthwhile security schemes use at least 2 of the 3 mechanisms, something that:

1. You know (password)
2. You have (key fob)
3. You are (biometrics; fingerprint, eye scan)