Windows 10/11 logon security


Hollywood

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Windows 11
I realize if your drives are not encrypted and someone gains physical access to your computer, the contents of the drives are accessible.

My question is, if someone is in front of your computer, how secure is it from someone being able to logon. Assuming a computer is stolen, is it possible for someone to logon with hacks either software or with some inspection or alteration of the boot drive?

Can a thief logon by obtaining your password?

Are there hacks that allow someone to logon without a password?

Thanks!
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
If you have a good password it will take a long time to get in but he can without logon access your hard/ssd/nvme drives if not encrypted he just need to boot with a usb stick and then via command prompt enter your drives.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Z440
    CPU
    XEON E5-1650 v4
    Memory
    64GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia 1660TI
    Sound Card
    Soundblaster Z
    Monitor(s) Displays
    42 Inch 4k IIyama
    Screen Resolution
    3840 x 2160
    Hard Drives
    1TB NVME 512GB NVME 512GB SSD
    PSU
    600W
    Keyboard
    Logitech MX Wireless
    Mouse
    Logitech G604
    Internet Speed
    512
    Browser
    Ungoogled Chromium
    Antivirus
    Defender
  • Operating System
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    Tablet
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP X2 1012 G2
    CPU
    i7 U7600
    Memory
    16GB
    Graphics card(s)
    Intel p640
    Sound Card
    Intel
    Monitor(s) Displays
    12,6 Inch
    Screen Resolution
    2736 x1824
    Hard Drives
    385 NVME
    Browser
    Ungoogled Chromium
    Antivirus
    Defender
If you have a good password it will take a long time to get in but he can without logon access your hard/ssd/nvme drives if not encrypted he just need to boot with a usb stick and then via command prompt enter your drives.
Yes, good point, but I was specifically wondering if someone can logon as me. There are many reasons, but for instance could someone do illicit browser searches or impersonate me in other ways? Is access to the registry any different if you are logon-ed to the account or accessing that boot drive from another computer?

While I am pondering this, can you encrypt the boot "C:" drive that allows access with just your logon password (not a separate encryption password)?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
If he has not your login account details he cannot login in with your windows account and impersonate you, browser searches and registry can be accessed and read if you boot with a usb stick, in fact all data can be accessed.

If you have a TPM chip you don't need to enter the encrypted drive with a password, if you don't you will need to enter the password. Logon password and encrypting password are two different things.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Z440
    CPU
    XEON E5-1650 v4
    Memory
    64GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia 1660TI
    Sound Card
    Soundblaster Z
    Monitor(s) Displays
    42 Inch 4k IIyama
    Screen Resolution
    3840 x 2160
    Hard Drives
    1TB NVME 512GB NVME 512GB SSD
    PSU
    600W
    Keyboard
    Logitech MX Wireless
    Mouse
    Logitech G604
    Internet Speed
    512
    Browser
    Ungoogled Chromium
    Antivirus
    Defender
  • Operating System
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    Tablet
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP X2 1012 G2
    CPU
    i7 U7600
    Memory
    16GB
    Graphics card(s)
    Intel p640
    Sound Card
    Intel
    Monitor(s) Displays
    12,6 Inch
    Screen Resolution
    2736 x1824
    Hard Drives
    385 NVME
    Browser
    Ungoogled Chromium
    Antivirus
    Defender
All things are possible ..........................
Chuck
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows11 23H2 (OS Build 22631.2428)
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP HP ENVY TE01
    CPU
    2.90 gigahertz Intel Core i7-10700
    Motherboard
    Board: HP 8767 A (SMVB)
    Memory
    16214 Megabytes Usable Installed Memor
    Hard Drives
    1511.52 Gigabytes Usable Hard Drive Capacity
    1418.15 Gigabytes Hard Drive Free Space
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless
    Mouse
    M 185 wireless
    Internet Speed
    12 ms Jitter 8 ms Download 10.5 Mbps Upload 1.7
    Browser
    Edge & FF
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
If he has not your login account details he cannot login in with your windows account and impersonate you, browser searches and registry can be accessed and read if you boot with a usb stick, in fact all data can be accessed.

If you have a TPM chip you don't need to enter the encrypted drive with a password, if you don't you will need to enter the password. Logon password and encrypting password are two different things.
Thanks! I just installed BitLocker on my C drive and it works seamless. I want to try it on my older computer too that does have Win11, but with a patched install (no TPM). I would rather not have to use 2 passwords, but would.

Like you said above someone with skills could get a lot of settings and personal info with just the drive if it's not encrypted.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
There were multiple threads where end users had boot or other problems and did not remember how to access their files that were protected by bitlocker. So make sure that you record in a safe place the information.

 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP
    CPU
    Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-4800MQ CPU @ 2.70GHz
    Motherboard
    Product : 190A Version : KBC Version 94.56
    Memory
    16 GB Total: Manufacturer : Samsung MemoryType : DDR3 FormFactor : SODIMM Capacity : 8GB Speed : 1600
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA Quadro K3100M; Intel(R) HD Graphics 4600
    Sound Card
    IDT High Definition Audio CODEC; PNP Device ID HDAUDIO\FUNC_01&VEN_111D&DEV_76E0
    Hard Drives
    Model Hitachi HTS727575A9E364
    Antivirus
    Microsoft Defender
    Other Info
    Mobile Workstation

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