Microsoft KB Archive/283198

= Logon Screen Appears to Stop Responding After Several Unsuccessful Password Attempts =

Article ID: 283198

Article Last Modified on 1/15/2006

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Windows XP Professional
 * Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition

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This article was previously published under Q283198





SYMPTOMS
After you enter an incorrect password for your user account several times in a row, the logon screen appears to stop responding (hang) for a period of time, and then functions again. This behavior happens after you enter an incorrect password six times in a row.



CAUSE
This behavior occurs to prevent dictionary attacks on user accounts. Dictionary attacks encrypt an entire dictionary and attempt to match the password at high speed.



RESOLUTION
To resolve this behavior, the bad password will eventually time out and you can then enter the correct password.



STATUS
This behavior is by design.



MORE INFORMATION
When this behavior occurs in a single logon session, the period of the timeout increments each time. Administrators can override this behavior. For example, the administrator can set a policy to lock out a user after a certain number of unsuccessful attempts.

Additional query words: freeze logon

Keywords: kbui kbprb KB283198

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