What is the difference between the Windows account PIN and password?
Which is more secure: Windows PIN or password?
Check now the differences between Windows account PIN and Password to choose the most secure option according to your needs.
In Windows 10 and 11 there are two popular ways to log in: via a PIN and via a regular password. However, Microsoft forces the user to use the PIN. However, as we are used to always using a common password, we asked ourselves which option would be the safest to use. Check out in this article what each of the access options offers to the user.
At first, using a PIN code seems to be less secure, mainly because it contains so few digits (four). But is this really an unsafe method? See below!
What are the ways to access a Windows PC? (PIN and password?)
There are three ways to log in to a Windows computer (PC). Each of them has different characteristics, as you can see below.
- A local account with a password – Only works with a specific machine (computer). There is no option to restore settings online. But, on the other hand, there are no online attacks. There is no way to monitor online or regain access remotely online.
- Microsoft account with a password – fits any Microsoft online service. You can access multiple devices or services with a single password as long as they use a Microsoft operating system or program. You can restore settings and monitor access online. It is susceptible to online attacks.
- Microsoft Account with PIN – Only works on the PC (computer) where the PIN has been set. There is a way to restore access through a Microsoft account. There are no online attacks, as access is local (offline).
By choosing to use the PIN code, the user will benefit from the strengths of a local account password and a Microsoft Account password. As the PIN is stored locally (outside of internet access), it is immune to online attacks. Even local attacks have a hard time getting the password, as Microsoft has developed mechanisms to prevent rapid brute force attacks.
While it is still possible to guess the PIN, the user can improve security by using a code of more than four digits, such as a six or eight. Even if there is unauthorized access to the computer, it is still difficult to access the user’s Microsoft Account as the account-specific password will still be charged to access the data.
What can I do to further increase security?
For those who want to further improve security against intrusion on their computer (PC), there is the option to completely encrypt the device. When doing this, you will need to enter the password to decrypt the computer before entering the PIN, for example. Below are some options for storage drive encryption programs (HDDs and SSDs):
- VeraCrypt
- BitLocker
- DiskCryptor
What did you think of this article about the security of login methods (PIN and password?) in Windows 10 and 11? Liked? Comment below and share your opinion with us!
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