Security Options

Part 4 of 4 Internet Security - Security Options

by David Foster, CBR Systems Analyst

(February 2004) This article is the fourth of 4 articles dealing with Internet security on your personal computer. The growth in usage of always-on, cable Internet connections and the sophistication of Internet bad guys makes security a growing and never ending concern. This article deals with security options within Windows XP, which is a very important place to start securing your computer. The previous articles have touched on firewalls, spyware needs, and anti-virus protection.

Are there any steps I can take to make Windows more secure?

The answer is yes, and these steps are very important to take. Microsoft Windows (and Microsoft in general) are the number one target of most computer evil-doers out there. This being the case, it is very important to protect Windows as well as you can. In this article I will only be addressing Windows XP, however some items can be done in older Windows operating systems.

The very first thing you should do is update your Windows. You can do this by selecting your Start button and clicking on Control Panel. This will bring up the Control Panel box, and on the left side you should see an Update button or link. Click on this link or button and follow the prompts to install the updates.

These updates will fill security holes within the Windows programming and are essential in keeping Windows as secure as possible. These updates will also target Microsoft Internet Explorer and Outlook security issues as well, so running them often is very important.

The latest update for Windows XP is Service Pack 2, which for security purposes we urge you to update to. Click on the Start button and select Control Panel. Then double click on the System icon to determine which Service Pack you are currently running. If you have never updated your Windows, you may need to go through the update procedure a couple times to get Service pack 2 fully installed.

The next step is also imperative for those who are using DSL or Cable connections for Internet access, as you are always connected to the Internet and part of a network. The setting that needs to be disabled, which is enabled by default, will allow others on a network to access your printer and files. If you have a network at home, or are on a network in your office, then you cannot disable this feature if you want your computers to be able to access each other.

This option is available to Windows 9x, ME, and 2000 users as well, and they will need to disable it too. In Windows XP, select your Start button followed by Control Panel. In Windows 9X select Start, then Settings, then Control Panel followed by the Network or Network Setting icon (depending on your operating system). This will open the settings box for your network (Internet) connection, and the item that we will be focusing on is called "File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks". If you see this, you are shared to a network, which means anyone on your Internet cable network can access your computer. To disable this in Windows XP, simply uncheck the box to the left of it and then the OK button. In Windows 9x, simply highlight the option and select the Remove button underneath the box and then the OK button. Reboot your system and access by outside computers will then be disallowed.

Windows XP Service Pack 2 has some internal security programs as well including a built in firewall and pop-up blocking program. The latest updates have provided a couple programs that can be used for spyware/adware removal as well. However, we strongly recommend that these programs not be your only security programs. We still suggest purchasing a good firewall, anti-virus, and anti-spyware software and use Microsoft's as backup.

Finally, for those that are super paranoid about their computer's security, there are Windows services that can be shut down. Window's services are protocols and programs that Windows automatically launches upon startup. Some are mandatory for the use of Windows, some for Internet access, etc. There are some, though, that can cause programs to be running in the background that you never use but could allow access to your system, such as Windows Messenger. These services can be turned off to stop access, however we do not support this though we do suggest it as another aspect of securing your PC. There are web sites available that will help you determine which services you can safely shut down, and how to do it.

Summary

We cannot stress that when you have a Cable Internet connection that you are always on the Internet while your computer is on and that you are part of a network that is part of a greater network that connects to the Internet. This is very important to understand, because anyone on your small network can gain access to your computer if you do not take the necessary steps to stop such access. By removing the permission in Windows you have taken the most effective step in stopping this type of access. It is also important to remember that most everyone that hacks or creates viruses, etc. are aiming their efforts at Microsoft. So it is critical to keep up with the Windows, Outlook, and Internet Explorer security updates.