How does windows force log off during removal of smart cards

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What does the action 'force logoff' during removal of smard card. Does it just close your programs or does it ask you to close them?

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ixe013 On

The "force" in "Force logoff" means what it will happen, and there is nothing you can do about it.

From MSDN:

If you click Force Logoff in the Properties dialog box for this policy, the user is automatically logged off when the smart card is removed.

You can try it yourself in a few easy steps:

  1. Open notepad and type "I love StackOverlow". Do not save.
  2. Try to logoff from Windows manually
  3. You not be forcefully logged off. Notepad will ask you to save your text.
  4. Click cancel and don't save your document just yet
  5. Remove the smart card

At the end of step 5, you will be forced to log off, no questions asked. Hence the name. The Winlogon process has the last word. It can do what it wants, using whatever API it needs. It is not documented, and does not need to be. There is nothing you can do about it.