Does locking the Windows XP Desktop actually keep hackers out?

[PowerMacG5]

I read somewhere that if you lock the desktop, it will keep hackers out, is this true? Also, is this the only way to lock the desktop, the WindowsKey and "L"?

 

[Nothinman]

It's basically a passworded screensaver.

 

[Platypus]

But with a passworded screensaver you can put in a CDROM with autorun and evade the screensaver.
With the locked screen, this does not work.

 

[Saltin]

If the box is on or exposed to a public network, then it can be broken into regardless of wether it is locked or not.

 

[Nothinman]

But with a passworded screensaver you can put in a CDROM with autorun and evade the screensaver.
With the locked screen, this does not work.

You must be talking about Win9X because that isn't true with NT. If you run Win9X and expect any level of security you're in for a rude awakening.

 

[Platypus]

This is probably true. I did this with a Windows 98 machine.

 

[PowerMacG5]

I am running Windows XP Pro on a NTFS partition. Nothinman, are you saying that locking the desktop on an NT based file system will keep hackers out?

 

[Nothinman]

I never said any such thing, I said it was the equivilant to a passworded screensaver.

 

[PowerMacG5]

Oh, okay.

 

[Woodchuck2000]

Locking the machine has absolutely no effect on network connectivity. It simply stops people fiddling locally.