Security Dialog Box and Task Manager

�

Security Dialog Box and Task Manager Objectives

2. Task Manager
3. Performance Tab in System Applet

CTRL + ALT + DEL. Windows NT Security Dialog Box

Buttons

Change Password - change user account password ; only way to change password
Lock Workstation - secures computer without logging off ; programs remain running
Logoff - logs off current user but leaves NT running
Shut Down - you know the drill
Task Manager - lists current programs running, summary of CPU usage and memory usage and quick view of how each program, program component, or system process is using the CPU and memory resources. Gives you the ability to switch between programs and stop a program that is not responding.

Best Practices

Always press CTRL+ALT+ DELETE at logon - prevents Trojan horse attacks
Keep password protection on user's screen saver
Lock computer when stepping away from workstation
Log off computer when leaving a workstation

Task Manager

Focus: Controlling a Process' Priority with Task Manager

Kernel controls the setting of priorities for each process and can increase or decrease the priority of a process. NT uses 32 priority levels (0 through 31). The higher-numbered priorities are executed before the lower numbered priorities. Users can launch applications or change an application's or processes priority (in example above, by right clicking on the process):

To change an application's priority (view > update speed ...)

You can also launch an application with a priority from the command line:

start [/low | /normal | /high | /realtime] application name

The System Applet also gives you a wee bit of control over how (only the foreground) process is run, but it is not as powerful a tool as Task Manager as you can see:

None. Priority of 0. All apps get equal time.
Intermediate.
Maximum. Default. Foreground applications get a priority of 10.