Secure attention key

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The secure attention key (SAK) is a special key combination to be entered before a login screen is presented. Examples are Control-Alt-Delete for Windows, Control-Alt-Pause or the SysRq-K sequence for Linux, or Control-X Control-R for AIX. Users should be instructed to report login prompts that appear without having pressed this key combination. Only the kernel, which is the part of the operating system that interacts directly with the hardware, can detect whether the secure attention key has been pressed, so it cannot be intercepted by third party programs.

The secure attention key is used to prevent login spoofing.