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Accounts: Rename guest account - security policy setting

Applies to

  • Windows 11
  • Windows 10

Describes the best practices, location, values, and security considerations for the Accounts: Rename guest account security policy setting.

Reference

The Accounts: Rename guest account policy setting determines whether a different account name is associated with the security identifier (SID) for the Guest account.

Possible values

  • User-defined text
  • Guest

Best practices

  1. For devices in unsecured locations, renaming the account makes it more difficult for unauthorized users to guess it.
  2. For computers in secured or trusted locations, keeping the name of the account as Guest provides consistency among devices

Location

Computer Configuration\Windows Settings\Security Settings

Default values

The following table lists the actual and effective default values for this policy. Default values are also listed on the policy’s property page.

Server type or GPO Default value
Default Domain Policy Guest
Default Domain Controller Policy Guest
Stand-Alone Server Default Settings Guest
DC Effective Default Settings Guest
Member Server Effective Default Settings Guest
Client Computer Effective Default Settings User-defined text

Policy management

This section describes features and tools that are available to help you manage this policy.

Restart requirement

None. Changes to this policy become effective without a device restart when they're saved locally or distributed through Group Policy.

Policy conflict considerations

None.

Group Policy

This policy setting can be configured by using the Group Policy Management Console (GPMC) to be distributed through Group Policy Objects (GPOs). If this policy isn't contained in a distributed GPO, this policy can be configured on the local device by using the Local Security Policy snap-in.

Security considerations

This section describes how an attacker might exploit a feature or its configuration, how to implement the countermeasure, and the possible negative consequences of countermeasure implementation.

Vulnerability

The guest account exists in all Windows server and client operating system versions beginning with Windows Server 2003 and Windows XP Professional. Because the account name is well known, it provides a vector for a malicious user to get access to network resources and attempt to elevate privileges or install software that could be used for a later attack on your system.

Countermeasure

Specify a new name in the Accounts: Rename guest account setting to rename the Guest account. If you rename this account, it's slightly more difficult for unauthorized persons to guess this privileged user name and password combination.

Potential impact

There should be little impact because the Guest account is disabled by default in Windows 2000 Server, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP. For later operating systems, the policy is enabled with Guest as the default.

Security Options