Passwords on Windows

Whats the point of locking the door or the luggage or the....?

Passwords are one layer in a multilayered approach to security. Windows passwords can be coupled with data encryption with Bitlocker or Truecrypt for even stronger protection. However, if a thief has prolonged physical access to the system, pretty much all bets are off.

Unless somebody steals your system and so has all the time in the world to get in unauthorizedly, a strong password will be able to deter the casual thief. More accomplished thieves can be deterred by having bios passwords, changing the password regularly, keeping a password which is a combo of characters and numerals and encrypting sensitive data.

But again physical security of the system is most important.