Helpful Note: Change Your Own Password

If you are on a Windows domain in your workplace and your Systems Administrator hasn't disabled the ability for you to change your password, then you can take control of your own security issues (or insecurity as the case may be) and change your password with relative ease. Here's how:
Press the Control, Alt and Delete keys at the same time.
Press the 'Change Password...' button.
Type your old password in the first field.
Type a new password in the second field.
Type the new password again in the third field.
Press OK.

That's all there is to it - Consider yourself empowered.

Comments

Anonymous said…
I'm trying to figure out why any [competent] system administrator would disable the ability to change a password. On the contrary, I'd expect most sysadmins to FORCE password changes and also to FORCE complex passwords. Of course, some people have accused me of being a network nazi :-)

Password testing utility from MS (so you can decide for yourself if it has any quality): http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/privacy/password_checker.mspx
1:37 PM
Absoblogginlutely! said…
You would prevent password changes on kiosk machines or machines/user accounts that multiple users use, service accounts, etc...
11:37 AM
Stuart Cowen said…
Yeah, I didn't have that exact application in mind, but there are definitely reasons where a password should be prevented from being changed. Functional IDs is another. These IDs are shared by a group of people (i.e., volunteers) and you wouldn't want one of them locking out the others.
11:43 AM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Google Talk

Image
Google's Instant Message product hit the "shelves" earlier this morning for Windows only. There's no Linux or Mac client yet, but there are guides to connecting to the protocol on iChat, Gaim, and Trillian. Neowin post : Google Talk enables you to call or send instant messages to your friends for free–anytime, anywhere in the world. Google Talk is simple and intuitive to use. There's no clutter, no pop-ups, no unnecessary software to install. Talk also features some interesting VoIP features like Skype. Google Talk uses the Jabber protocol however instant messaging members of other clients doesn'’t appear to be supported. So far, I love it! It's very lightweight and includes a newer GMail Notifier. Looks like you need to have a GMail account to use it, though. If you need a GMail invite to try the IM, I've got plenty - just send me your email address!
Read more

Movie Product Placement

This past weekend, my wife and I had a "date afternoon" and we decided to watch a movie - truly a rare treat. We both thought the movie was awesome, but we laughed after the show about how blatant and littered the product placement was. Now, don't misunderstand, it was neither cheesy nor did it spoil the experience for us - it was just there and a lot of it. Some of the products included (see if you can guess the movie) - Answer: The Island Puma - Cadillac - Ben & Jerry's - MSN Search - Aquafina - Amtrak - Cisco - XBox - Nokia - Mack Truck - Michelob - Calvin Klien I don't know how the movie business works, but is this the de facto way to raise funds? How much does a company a pay to have their logo and futuristic versions of today's products peddled in a movie? And does a Cisco pay more for having their logo displayed and their name voiced on-screen rather than Puma who just had a silent quick-shot? The first time I was aware of product p...
Read more

iPod has become wePod

It's true. Now that I've ripped all of our CDs into iTunes (including the Kids' CDs) and subsequently onto the iPod, I find that my wife uses it almost as much as me. In the morning, she's blasting music from it onto the kitchen radio. If she's going somewhere by herself, "Babe, where's the iPod?". In the family van on the weekends, she's spinning the clickwheel like a veteran DJ flippin' the wax. Don't get me wrong, I am not bitter in the least. Rather, I am totally jazzed that she "gets it". Now, I'm saving my pennies to buy her a "shePod". By the way, I don't think my darling would be using the iPod nearly as much if it weren't for the Griffin iTrip (er, weTrip?). It's a definite must-have accessory.
Read more