Where Do PCs Store Network Passwords? - Explained for Cyber Security Awareness

When you connect your PC to a network, whether it's at home, work, or a public network, your computer often saves the network password for convenience. But where exactly does it store these passwords?

Network passwords on a PC are typically stored in the Windows Credential Manager. This is a feature in Windows that securely stores credentials such as usernames and passwords used to log into websites, networks, or other resources. When you connect to a network and choose to save the password, it gets stored in the Credential Manager.

To access these stored network passwords, you can go to Control Panel > User Accounts > Credential Manager. Here, you will find a list of saved credentials, including network passwords. It's important to note that these passwords are encrypted and protected by Windows, but it's still best practice to regularly review and manage these stored passwords for security reasons.