switch(message)
{
     case WM_KEYDOWN:
          switch(wParam)
          {
               case VK_ESCAPE: //the virutal key code for esc
                    PostQuitMessage(0);
               break;
          }
     break;
     /*
     rest of the window procedure
     */
}

#include <windows.h> 
#include <string>
#include <iostream>
 
using namespace std;
 
string getPassword();
 
int main(){
 
    string password("true");
 
    while (true){
 
        cout << " Input Password: ";
        password = getPassword();
 
        cout << "Verify Password: ";
        string pwverify = getPassword();
 
        if(password == pwverify) {break;}
        cout << "\nPassword mismatch.  Try again\n";
    }
 
    cout  << password << endl << password.size() << endl;
 
    system("pause");      
} 
 
 
string getPassword(){ 
    CHAR buffer[1] = ""; 
    DWORD w; 
    HANDLE console = GetStdHandle(STD_OUTPUT_HANDLE); 
    HANDLE keyboard = GetStdHandle(STD_INPUT_HANDLE); 
    INPUT_RECORD input[1]; 
 
    string pw;
 
     while(true) { 
        // Read an input record. 
        ReadConsoleInput(keyboard, input, 1, &w); 
 
        // Process a key down input event. 
        if(input[0].EventType == KEY_EVENT 
           && input[0].Event.KeyEvent.bKeyDown)
        { 
 
            // Retrieve the character that was pressed. 
            buffer[0] = input[0].Event.KeyEvent.uChar.AsciiChar; 
 
            if(buffer[0] == 13){ break;}  // enter pressed
            if(buffer[0] == 8){           // backspace
                pw.erase(pw.size()-1, 1);
                cout << "\b \b";
                continue;
            }
 
            if(buffer[0] != 0) {  // 0 is function keys, shift, ctrl, etc.
               cout << '*';
               pw += buffer[0];
            }
        } 
    }
    cout << endl;
    return pw;
}