When logging into Windows, it says on that page that CTRL-ALT-DEL somehow makes Windows more secure. I have never been able to figure a mechanism where having to press some specific key combination before logging in makes the system more secure. I have never encountered a VMS, UNIX or related system that makes you press any key to log in — except older terminal-based UNIXes where you press ENTER to get a login prompt.
How does having to press CTRL-ALT-DEL before logging in make Windows more secure?
Best Answer
The Windows (NT) kernel is designed to reserve the notification of this key combination to a single process: Winlogon. So, as long as the Windows installation itself is working as it should - no third party application can respond to this key combination (if it could, it could present a fake logon window and keylog your password ;)