Log-On Procedure
A formal log-on procedure id the operating system’s first line of defense against unauthorized access. When the user initiates the process, he or she is presented with a dialog box requesting the user’s ID and password. The system compares the ID and password to a database of valid users. If the system finds a match, then the log-on attempt is authenticated. If, however, the password or ID is entered incorrectly, the log-on attempt fails and a message is returned to the user. The message should not reveal whether the password or the ID caused the failure. The system should allow the user to reenter the log-on information. After a specified number of attempts (usually no more than five), the system should lock out the user from the system.