Where Are User Passwords Stored in Windows 10?

In Windows 10, user passwords are not stored in plaintext format for security reasons. Instead, they are securely hashed and stored in the SAM (Security Accounts Manager) database located in the %SystemRoot%\system32\config directory.

The SAM database holds user account information, including hashed passwords, and is heavily protected by the operating system to prevent unauthorized access. When a user logs in, Windows compares the hashed password entered by the user with the stored hashed password in the SAM database to authenticate the user.

It is crucial to protect the SAM database and ensure that only authorized users have access to it as compromising this file could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive information on the system.

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