Change the time zone
Applies To: Windows Vista, Windows Server 2008, Windows 7, Windows 8.1, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Server 2012 R2, Windows Server 2012, Windows 8
This security policy reference topic for the IT professional describes the best practices, location, values, policy management, and security considerations for this policy setting.
This policy setting determines which users can adjust the time zone that is used by the computer for displaying the local time, which includes the computer's system time plus the time zone offset.
This policy setting is supported on versions of Windows that are designated in the Applies To list at the beginning of this topic.
Constant: SeTimeZonePrivilege
User-defined list of accounts
Not Defined
None.
GPO_name\Computer Configuration\Windows Settings\Security Settings\Local Policies\User Rights Assignment
The following table lists the actual and effective default policy values for the most recent supported versions of Windows. Default values are also listed on the policy’s property page.
Server type or GPO |
Default value |
---|---|
Default Domain Policy |
Not Defined |
Default Domain Controller Policy |
Administrators Users |
Stand-Alone Server Default Settings |
Administrators Users |
Domain Controller Effective Default Settings |
Administrators Users |
Member Server Effective Default Settings |
Administrators Users |
Client Computer Effective Default Settings |
Administrators Users |
There are no differences in the way this policy setting works between the supported on versions of Windows that are designated in the Applies To list at the beginning of this topic.
A restart of the computer is not required for this policy setting to be effective.
Any change to the account for this user right assignment becomes effective the next time the account logs on.
Settings are applied in the following order through a Group Policy Object (GPO), which will overwrite settings on the local computer at the next Group Policy update:
Local policy settings
Site policy settings
Domain policy settings
OU policy settings
When a local setting is greyed out, it indicates that a GPO currently controls that setting.
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.
Changing the time zone represents little vulnerability because the system time is not affected. This setting merely enables users to display their preferred time zone while being synchronized with domain controllers in different time zones.
Countermeasures are not required because system time is not affected by this setting.
None.