Windows Security

A list of essential steps to protect your computer.

If you dont have FireFox browser I highly recommend it.

Follow the next few steps in this Knowledge Base Article to see STEP by STEP on how to protect yourself from having your identity stolen, credit card thieves and cyber punks.

Step 1
Make windows ask you for a password EVERY time you logon.

Start > Settings > Control Panel
User Accounts
Select your user account
Create a password

make it 8 characters long using Letters, Numbers, and Symbols $%�
make the password hint something ONLY YOU WOULD KNOW
dont share your password

Firefox Tips and Tricks (taken from version 1.5)

(If you want INTERNET EXPLORER, thats next)

-Open Firefox
-Tools > Internet Options

General Section
You can change your homepage in this section

Privacy Section
-CLEAR BROWSING HISTORY NOW erases your tracks for hackers
-SETTINGS allows you to set a HOTKEY to auto-erase your tracks
-In the PASSWORDS tab, un-check "Remember Passwords" its the most common way for hackers to get your bank account access or steal your identity UNKNOWN to you
-In the cookies tab "for the originating site only" to stop some popups

Internet Explorer Tips and Tricks (taken from version 6)
-Open Internet Explorer
-Tools > Internet Options

These tips show you how to change your IE settings to protect yourself and your computer.
If you want to update IE now (HIGHLY RECOMMENDED) follow this link.
http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/

General tab

DELETE FILES to delete your IE cache memory that holds your private info sometimes
CLEAR HISTORY in this page to erase your tracks
Enter a new homepage here in case of it being stolen

Privacy tab

BLOCK POPUPS make sure you click this...
You can set your privacy to MEDIUM-HIGH at maximum, any more is too high

Content tab

DISABLE your auto-save passwords, as this is most common way hackers gain access to your banks or personal computer information.

Click Auto Complete button, and un-check "user names and passwords on forms" then ok

Under Content Advisor click ENABLE to block bad websites for kids

Setup the following window, along with its tabs. Create a password there, and do NOT give it to the child. Press OK

Change the Windows Services that start with your computer

Start > Run > Services.msc
This opens a window listing all windows SERVICES that start up with your computer.
A service is like a program, but instead of a file, its part of windows.
Services allow functions on your computer, while others allow security holes.
To change a services properties, double click.
Automatic = Starts up everytime with your computer
Manual = Starts up as needed
Disabled = Will not be started up

Find this service on your list and make sure they are DISABLED.
Messenger
Netmeeting Remote Desktop
Remote Registry

If something doesnt work now, simply undo this manually.

These are for more advanced levels of privacy, and for more advanced users.
Use these at your own risk!
Enable ADVANCED Security Features
Click Start > Run
%SystemRoot%system32secpol.msc /s
Enter the above line in the window and run
Local Policies > Security Options
Change the following settings by double clicking:

Accounts: Administrator account status *DISABLE* (as long as your username is NOT adminsitrator)
Accounts: Guest account status *DISABLE*

These disable two accounts that allow access to your computer. If you dont have an administrator password, you are in BIG trouble with this enabled.