NTLM

Abbreviations can be very misleading in some cases as a single abbreviation can refer to a lot of things, all depending upon the situation it is used in and the context it is used in. Same is the case with this term, NTLM. However, this article will deal with this term with respect to the networking world, and in this world, this term, NTLM, stands for Windows NT LAN Manager. This technology is specifically made for the windows network, and in this windows network this technology was introduced as a suite of Microsoft security protocols that is capable of providing three things to the users. These three, different things are authentication, integrity and confidentiality. This protocol was introduced to replace an old security protocol that was used for Windows NT LAN manager. The old security protocol was named LANMAN or Microsoft LAN Manager.

Two versions of this protocol were introduced to the world. The second version was introduced at the time of launch of Windows NT 4.0 SP4, and the major difference between version and version 2 was that, this second version was capable of providing more security as compared to the first one as it was equipped with appropriate tools to deal with spoofing attacks. At some time in the technology world this protocol was used and recommended extensively by the Microsoft Corporation for its products and various Windows, like Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows NT 4.0 and even for Windows 2000. However, today, the technology have advanced a lot, as a result a new security protocol has been introduced to the world and Microsoft now recommend that protocol over this NTLM and in the near future, this protocol would become a legacy.

This protocol basically worked on the challenge response mechanism for authentication. In this mechanism the client proves his identity without sending the password to the server, and this mechanism consisted of three messages to authenticate the user. These messages were, negotiation, challenge and authentication.