February 28, 2008

Determining Whether Administrators Are Forcing Users to Change Their Passwords


RSS
View this exclusive article with VIP access -- click here to join |
See More Security Articles Here | Reprints | Or sign up for our VIP Monthly Pass!
Main Article    Access Denied

Q: Our domain administrators aren't always setting the Force user to change password at next login parameter, which is against our corporate policy. I have been trying to find a way to audit this action, but haven't found a way to do so. Are you aware of an event that logs whether an administrator has set the Force user to change password at next login parameter?

A: Windows actually has a distinct pattern of Security log events that indicate whether administrators include the Force user to change password at next login parameter with password resets. You specifically need to track the changes made to the Password Last Set property on user account objects because there isn't a discrete property in Active Directory (AD) user accounts for forcing users to change their password the next time they log on. Instead, AD uses the Password Last Set property for this purpose by setting it to <never>.

First, you need to make sure your domain controllers (DCs) will log the events necessary to track password resets. To do so, edit the Default Domain Controller Security Policy—for which there’s a shortcut in any DC's Administrative Tools folder—by maneuvering to Security Settings\Local Policies\Audit Policy and enabling Audit account management events for Success. . . .


Already a VIP member?
Please log on to view the full article

Why become a VIP member?

VIP-only online access
VIP CD delivered twice a year: offline access to the entire Windows IT Pro article library
Monthly issue of your choice of Windows IT Pro or SQL Server Magazine

Subscribe Now
Top Viewed ArticlesView all articles
WinInfo Short Takes: Week of November 23, 2009

An often irreverent look at some of the week's other news, including some post-PDC some soul searching, a Google Chrome OS announcement and a Microsoft response, Windows 7 off to a supposedly strong start, the Jonas Brothers and Xbox 360, and so much more ...

Command Prompt Tricks

One reader shares his tip for setting up the command prompt to reflect a remote path. ...

2009 Windows IT Pro Editors' Best and Community Choice Awards

Picking a favorite product from an impressive crowd of competitive offerings is never an easy task, and such was the case with our Editors' Best and Community Choice awards this year. ...


Security Whitepapers Reducing the Costs and Risks of Branch Office Data Protection

Solving Desktop Management Challenges in Healthcare

Solving Desktop Management Challenges in Education

Related Events Introduction to Identity Lifecycle Manager "2"

SQL Server Security: How to Secure, Monitor & Audit Your Databases

Protecting Mobile Users' Data

Check out our list of Free Email Newsletters!

Security eBooks Spam Fighting and Email Security for the 21st Century

Understanding and Leveraging Code Signing Technologies

A Guide to Windows Certification and Public Keys

Related Security Resources Introducing Left-Brain.com, the online IT bookstore
Looking for books, CDs, toolkits, eBooks? Prime your mind at Left-Brain.com

Discover Windows IT Pro eLearning Series!
Clear & detailed technical information and helpful how-to's, all in our trademark no-nonsense format


SQL Server Magazine Office & SharePoint Pro DevProConnections asp.netPRO ITTV
IT Library Technology Resource Directory Connected Home Windows SuperSite
 
 Windows IT Pro is a Division of Penton Media Inc.
 © 2009 Penton Media, Inc.     Terms of Use | Privacy Statement | Reprints and Licensing