LocalService vs NetworkService vs LocalSystem
LocalService
A limited service account that is very similar to Network Service and meant to run standard least-privileged services. However, unlike Network Service it accesses the network as an Anonymous user.
- Name: NT AUTHORITY\LocalService
- the account has no password (any password information you provide is ignored)
- HKCU represents the LocalService user account
- has minimal privileges on the local computer
- presents anonymous credentials on the network
- SID: S-1-5-19
- has its own profile under the HKEY_USERS registry key (HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-19)
NetworkService
Limited service account that is meant to run standard privileged services. This account is far more limited than Local System (or even Administrator) but still has the right to access the network as the machine (see caveat above).
- NT AUTHORITY\NetworkService
- the account has no password (any password information you provide is ignored)
- HKCU represents the NetworkService user account
- has minimal privileges on the local computer
- presents the computer's credentials (e.g. MANGO$) to remote servers
- SID: S-1-5-20
- has its own profile under the HKEY_USERS registry key (HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-20)
- If trying to schedule a task using it, enter NETWORK SERVICE into the Select User or Group dialog
LocalSystem
Completely trusted account, more so than the administrator account. There is nothing on a single box that this account cannot do, and it has the right to access the network as the machine (this requires Active Directory and granting the machine account permissions to something)
- Name: .\LocalSystem (can also use LocalSystem or ComputerName\LocalSystem)
- the account has no password (any password information you provide is ignored)
- SID: S-1-5-18
- does not have any profile of its own (HKCU represents the default user)
- has extensive privileges on the local computer
- presents the computer's credentials (e.g. MANGO$) to remote servers
