Microsoft KB Archive/186602

= Terminal Server's Three Levels of Security =

Article ID: 186602

Article Last Modified on 11/1/2006

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0, Terminal Server Edition

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This article was previously published under Q186602



SUMMARY
This article describes the three levels of security (High, Medium, Low) available for a defined Terminal Server connection. Security levels are set in Connection Configuration under Advanced Properties for the defined connection.



MORE INFORMATION
Low Encryption:

Low encryption will encrypt only packets being sent from the client to the server running Terminal Server. This "input only" encryption is to protect the input of sensitive data like a user's password.

Medium Encryption:

Medium encryption will encrypt outgoing packets from the client the same as Low-level encryption, but will also encrypt all display packets being returned to the client from the server running Terminal Server. This method of encryption will secure sensitive data as it travels over the network to be displayed on a remote screen.

Both Low and Medium encryption use the RC4 algorithm with a 40-bit key.

High Encryption:

High encryption will encrypt packets in both directions, to and from the client, but will use the industry standard RC4 encryption algorithm, again with a 40-bit key. A non-export version of Windows NT Terminal Server will provide 128-bit high-level RC4 encryption.

Keywords: kbinfo KB186602

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