How to prevent Windows password cracking?

TrueCrypt - Free Open-Source On-The-Fly Disk Encryption Software for Windows Vista/XP, Mac OS X and Linux - Documentation

You can bypass a Windoze password screen in XP with a keystroke, encrypting the whole drive volume is another matter altogether.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRV5yJVDT8k]YouTube - Re: How to Bypass a Windows XP Password Without any Programs[/ame]

 

Buy a Mac.

 

Thats why they are called "hacks".

They bypass security measures. Hackers will ALWAYS be one step ahead. Remember, even if you get a 3rd party encryption software, that was written by someone, and has code.

All one has to do is evaluate code, and generate a hack.

Put your porn on a gig stick.

 

Put your linux OS on a USB stick and encrypt the stick and use the HD for storage space.

Also, cracker not hacker. Hackers fix things crackers break them.

 

Got news for ya.

Spoiler

Mac passwords can be hacked too.

 

^ cracked.

 

Spare me.

 

Too late. It's unfair to the people who do the good jobs that they do to be labelled wrong.

And you're right, a quick google search does turn up a how to on cracking mac passwords.

 

Like me. I 'hack' forgotten passwords all the time. I make my living doing honest IT work for businesses.

 

The only thing I know to do is lock your case and set a password up in your BIOS.

 

You don't.

 

Another Mac myth shot down.

 

Is it a large bet? As in large enough to buy a new laptop? If it is, throw the laptop off a cliff and then proceed to hack it into tiny pieces with a sledgehammer. If it isn't, don't go making such bets anymore

 

Well then you understand how ****ty it is.

I mean the particular semantics of the word used might not matter much to you but the honesty of your work surely does

 

If it can be done, it can be undone.

 

Yeah but it looks like you'd have to know how to use a terminal.

 

Cracking passwords is so '90s

 

Put peanut butter in your drives - that ought to do it!

 

Depends on your BIOS, you can change your boot settings to boot only from the hard drive and bypass the USB and DVD drives...depending on your BIOS.

Speaking of BIOS passwords, a co worker gave me an ancient Gateway G6...because he set the BIOS password and forgot the thing....

Any suggestions on how to bypass that?

Bueller?...Buuueller?

 

Lots. You could look for the jumper that clears the CMOS or remove the battery of the mainboard for a while. Alternatively, depending on the manufacturer, you can try a master password. Just google for "bios +masterpasswords" and you should find a list. Basically, Bios passwords are as secure as locking your door with scotch tape.

 

CMOSS battery is out as we speak, I thought about flashing the Bios, but..no joy...you have to make it to the OS screen to install.

Typically there was a trick but all I know is "phoenix bios...blah blah.."

I think I'll try booting it without a CMOSS battery and with luck.. it will reset itself..

 

To be honest it doesn't make any difference to me because the terminology doesn't affect me. Honestly, I don't think it makes any difference outside the hardcore IT world. As far as the 'outside' world known, there is no other word.

Companies generally don't have positions called 'hacker'. They have 'security consultants', 'sys admins', etc.

Sometimes I'll break it down to make conversation. But all that really matters is intent and personability.

Sure, I'd rather be known as the "IT people" or "consultants" rather than "the computer guy". That speaks to the scope of one's job and skill set (and therefore the bill rate), and the value in what you're doing for them. But whether I'm 'hacking' or 'cracking' their local password? It's really a conversation that is unnecessary and completely irrelevant.

Generally that's going to be met with "whatever, just fix the damn thing so I can get back to work".

 

As to the topic, you could remove the CD drive for your machine in favor of a USB one, and take it with you when you leave. Obviously that wouldn't stop someone from bringing their own, but it's a start. There are a number of ways to skin a cat.

I guess what I'm trying to say is, all depends on the caliber of your 'opponent' and how far you think they'd be willing to go to accomplish their objective.