user different password for screensaver and Windows login

[windows7Seven7]

I would like to use a different shorter password for my screensaver, then to log onto windows.

WHY:good question, my windows password needs to be secure enough to secure my webmail,and other security issues, but my screen saver does not need to be that secure, because my computer is in a very secure location.

 

[Pauly]

Windows password is not exactly secure, not sure it would make much difference if you used shorter for both, if someone wants to logon its pretty easy
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/238737-user-account-reset-password-windows-7-a.html

Personally if you are that worried about security then a more secure boot option may be a better option

 

[LMiller7]

The password used in a screensaver is that associated with your user account. A single account cannot have more than one password. A weak password used here would be a security hole and would largely nullify the security of your login password. But since they must be the same this is not an issue.

 

[windows7Seven7]

exactly.
I have no concerns locally, but my windows login, is used to secure web based applications, and are sitting on the internet.

so I need a good password for that, but my machine is secure, I don't need as secure a password for my local needs

 

[andrew129260]

Like everyone has stated already you cannot have 2 passwords on 1 user account. However you could disable the password on the screensaver. Go into screensaver under personalize and disable the ask for password option

 

[windows7Seven7]

Is there a third party application that can act as a screen lock? That way I can use a longer secure windows password for the web applications that use windows login, but a simple password to secure my local machine.

 

[LMiller7]

Is there a third party application that can act as a screen lock? That way I can use a longer secure windows password for the web applications that use windows login, but a simple password to secure my local machine.

Maybe, but I would tend to doubt it. It seems to me that Microsoft would go to considerable lengths to ensure that this would not be possible. That would be a security risk masquerading as a feature.

One of the fundamental concepts of the Windows security model is that of the trusted login. That means that any screen asking for a login password actually belongs to the system and not some malicious program designed to harvest user passwords. This was a problem in early Unix systems.

 

[Boozad]

Not trying to be facetious here, but if you have no concerns locally and your machine is secure, can't you just turn off your screen saver so you don't have to keep logging in all the time?

 

[windows7Seven7]

boozad, very good question.

although my local station is secure, there are folks popping in and out, and i need a little security so i dont worry what is on my screen (for instance email about someone i supervise) so noone accidently views this.

 

[windows7Seven7]

by the way, windows 8 kinda offers this. you can have a very secure 20 character long password as your windows (and hence web portal) passwords, while securing your actual device with a PIN