Your computer’s login password needs to be kept secure at all times.
The password to your computer should never be disclosed to anyone. Your entire world is probably accessible from your Windows computer, from work to social networking to banking. They are the keys to your kingdom. Therefore, Microsoft is pleading with us not to be moron who provide our credentials to everybody who asks. However, they are aware that some of us will, which is why they recently introduced some strong measures to safeguard us from ourselves.
How criminals get the password for your computer
Phishing, or fooling someone into giving up sensitive digital information like their PC password, is the problem. Scammers are becoming increasingly skilled at extracting this information from gullible victims, far surpassing the conventional techniques that appear corny and obvious in today’s society. One tactic is to design completely bogus websites that exactly resemble the ones you’re trying to log into. Even if you see the scam in time and choose not to log in, hackers may still be able to obtain your password if you simply type it into one of these sites. Even though that’s never a good thing, it’s worse if your computer password and Facebook password are the same. Now, malicious users are able to access your computer.
Password storage that isn’t secure is another problem. For instance, you put yourself at risk for data theft if you store all of your passwords in a regular Word or Excel file. Never keep your credentials in a plain text document that anybody can access; only keep them in password-protected and encrypted sources.
The risk to individuals is substantial, just as it is for businesses and networks. Large organisations have been penetrated by hackers as a result of weak or exposed passwords. Access to just one user’s computer can occasionally cause the entire security system to collapse.
How Microsoft is assisting with password protection for Windows
Microsoft has released new tools to defend you against PC password theft with the significant Windows 11 2022 update that was released last week. The first is a notification that appears each time your Windows login password is used on another website. It is hoped that this will make you reluctant to use your PC’s password for any other services. Hackers will now have access to your PC’s password if the website you’re “logging into” is actually a phishing site, but even a trustworthy website may suffer from a password leak. The second option alerts you each time your password is entered into an application that shouldn’t store it. Microsoft is attempting to convince you not to save your passwords in programmes like Word or Notepad because they don’t provide the same level of security as a legitimate password manager.
How to activate the new password protection procedures from Microsoft
For some reason, these password protection options—which are also very hidden in Settings—are not turned on by default. You will need to log into your computer with your Windows password rather than Windows Hello in order for them to function. You must disable the PIN feature on your PC first since otherwise they won’t function. (Click “Remove” after selecting the Windows Hello method you want to disable from the sign-in options in Start > Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options.)
Then select Reputation-based protection settings from the Start menu’s Settings > Privacy & security > Windows Security > App & browser control menu. Phishing protection should already be turned on, so check that. “Warn me about password reuse” and “Warn me about dangerous password storage” are the additional options to concentrate on. When both are turned on, you’ll get notifications whenever you enter your password in a dubious app.