Windows 7 / Getting Started

Displaying a Security Message

Would you like to display a message to your users before they can log on? Are any instructions necessary for users of your computers, such as "Do not shut down this computer!" or possibly a security warning informing unauthorized users that they are breaking the law if they try to log on to your laptop? All these are possible with the help of Group Policy. With just a few clicks, you can easily display a message to your visitors.

Using the Local Security Policy editor, you can turn this feature on. Follow these steps to activate it on your PC:

  1. Click the Start button, type secpol.msc, and press Enter.
  2. When the Local Security Policy editor loads, navigate through Local Policies and then Security Options.
  3. Locate the Interactive logon: Message title for users attempting to log on policy. Right-click it and select Properties.
  4. On the Local Security Settings tab, type a title that you would like to use for your message, and click OK.
  5. Locate the Interactive logon: Message text for users attempting to log on policy. Right-click it and select Properties.
  6. On the Local Security Settings tab, type your message and click OK.
  7. Close the Local Security Policy editor; you are finished.

As soon as you log off or reboot, the security message settings will be activated.

[Previous] [Contents] [Next]

In this tutorial:

  1. Customizing the Startup
  2. Customizing the Logon Screen
  3. Changing User Pictures
  4. Hiding Users on the Logon Screen
  5. Clearing the Last User Logon
  6. Changing the Logon Screen Screensaver
  7. Displaying a Security Message
  8. Enabling Num Lock by Default
  9. Changing the Logon Screen Background