keeping login passwords safe on public networks

[herbc]

Hi folks, i usually use public networks through wi fi and i want to keep my passwords safe when logging in, as i understand it the very first password that is surrounded by a blue screen is the admin password.

After that though it shows a box with my user account and admin account, i'm confused about the admin account , is it normal to need to type in the first admin password and then the same again after i get past the first screen?

I usually use the user account but is there a way to make the admin account less vulnerable to keyloggers etc..

I just started using last pass but it only works for sites i visit and offers no protection when first logging in to my computer.

Thanks

 

[nommy the first]

Hello Herbc,

I usually use the user account but is there a way to make the admin account less vulnerable to keyloggers etc..

You might want to use the built-in Virtual Keyboard to type the pass. That way you simply use your mouse to type, and keyloggers would only register a few mouse clicks.
Take a look here on how to use it.

For general protection against keyloggers you might want to check Hitman Pro. Al tho it only has a free 30 day trail.


Good luck and keep us posted,
Nommy

 

[herbc]

Yeah, i'm aware of the keyboard login, how bout the other questions i had, thanks.

 

[nommy the first]

Hello Herbc,

I am afraid that I can be of no assistance there as I don't use public networks.
But I am sure that many of our great contributes do, and that they'd love to share their knowledge with you


Good luck and keep us posted,
Nommy

 

[ThrashZone]

I'm not at all sure why your having to enter two passwords/ One to log into your user account standard or admin should be all that is needed,
Public wifi networks do not have passwords which is why not many people would use them for more than surfing the internet/ No banking sites/ No purchasing....
If you would take a couple of pictures of the login screens it might help others to see what your seeing.

 

[bobafetthotmail]

wifi connection is enabled after you login. The only way to get your PC's login password would be malware on your PC (keyloggers) or the old way (binoculars and a good viewpoint from a building)

if you mean other stuff like logins to sites and whatnot, that stuff can be "sniffed" (the jargon for "detected and read") by anyone near that hotspot if it is using unsecured connection (that is, you connect to it freely and then it asks a password only for internet access when you open your browser).
For that I recommend finding a good VPN, virtual private network, client.
A VPN is basically what in movies they call "secure line/channel", an additional layer of encryption.
Here to read more and to make your own if you have a broadband connection at home.

as i understand it the very first password that is surrounded by a blue screen is the admin password.

If you have only one account, yes. Check by typing "user accounts" in the Start menu's searchbox and pressing enter.

is it normal to need to type in the first admin password and then the same again after i get past the first screen?

Windows requires only one password at login. One of the two must be for a different thing.
Did you add a password to the BIOS as well? BIOS passwords look like this.
Are you using drive encryption software?

If you can post pics of the login screens I could help identify it. (use your phone's camera or another device, as the PC cannot take screenshots during login, for obvious reasons)

 

[whs]

On a public network you are not safe from anything - in fact, on any network you are not safe, the NSA will always get you.

The strategy must be to minimize the exposure. For that purpose I suggest this approach:

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/288105-safe-internet-browsing.html

 

[herbc]

Thanks a lot guys, very helpful. I re installed a few weeks ago and during the install the screen that says create a password is for the admin password , correct?

When i first press the on button on my computer i always get this all blue screen for a password , i enter the password and up pops another screen that shows two separate boxes, one for admin and one for user. I didn't want to confuse anybody, unfortunately i can't take a screenshot of that first screen as it's just all blue with a enter password in the middle.

I know the second screen is normal and i have no questions about that.

 

[bobafetthotmail]

On a public network you are not safe from anything - in fact, on any network you are not safe, the NSA will always get you.

No, wait, since when you need to avoid NSA? :shock:

And there are ways to do that, but usually employ illegal stuff like cracking someone else's wifi network and using Tor (and not doing stuff that links your online accounts to your real-life self, like buying stuff with credit cards or going on Facebook).

I didn't want to confuse anybody, unfortunately i can't take a screenshot of that first screen as it's just all blue with a enter password in the middle.

I already said that screenshots don't work. I told to use another device, like a camera or your phone's own camera.

 

[bobafetthotmail]

On a public network you are not safe from anything - in fact, on any network you are not safe, the NSA will always get you.

No, wait, since when you need to avoid NSA? :shock:

And there are ways to do that, but usually employ illegal stuff like cracking someone else's wifi network and using Tor (and not doing stuff that links your online accounts to your real-life self, like buying stuff with credit cards or going on Facebook).

You can be anonymous on the net. It's just very annoying to do so, and not practical for 90% of the times.

I didn't want to confuse anybody, unfortunately i can't take a screenshot of that first screen as it's just all blue with a enter password in the middle.

I already said that screenshots don't work. I told to use another device, like a camera or your phone's own camera.

 

[herbc]

I think you guys already answered my questions , i don't think it's necessary to take a pic of a blue screen with a password box in the middle, i installed the VPN by following the directions to do your own.

I find it very confusing but i find most things confusing.

Thanks for the help guys.

 

[bobafetthotmail]

assuming it is a BIOS disk access password, I recommend to remove it.

Those things are a piece of cake to crack/sidestep/bypass/erase/whatever for anyone, and are an annoyance at best.
Those passwords are useful only to keep kids and tricksters from messing up your BIOS settings.

When booting press the key it says to enter Setup or BIOS (usually F1, F2, or del), then travel to the page about security and make the appropriate changes.

 

[herbc]

Oh OK, thank you. I assume the VPN is the way to go if using unsecured wi fi networks. At least it's better than not having it i suppose.

 

[bobafetthotmail]

Of course. It makes harder to get at your data, now any malicious person would have to crack the encryption you are using for your VPN. Which is doable, but annoying. It is usually enough to keep most thieves at bay, but won't stop NSA or whatever.