| Over the past recent years security has | | | | required users. If you haven't secured the |
| become the major concern of the internet | | | | shared folder by restricting the permissions |
| users. It is important to keep your home | | | | then your sensitive information can be leaked |
| computer secure from the viruses, hackers, | | | | and your data can be deleted accidentally |
| spyware and other security threats. These | | | | from the shared folder. |
| security tips are applied on the Windows | | | | |
| based operating systems such as Microsoft | | | | If your computer is directly connected to the |
| Windows 2000 Professional, Windows XP | | | | internet through Dial up connection, DSL or |
| Professional and Windows 2003 Server. The | | | | cable net you need to protect your computer |
| general methods of securing your computer and | | | | by connecting the hardware firewall and it is |
| network is keeping your operating system | | | | also a good idea to install and configure the |
| up-to-date, installing up-to-dated antivirus | | | | software firewall as well. In Windows XP |
| program, anti spyware program, applying | | | | there is built in Firewall installed and you |
| security templates, restricting the access to | | | | can turn it on and off by going to control |
| computer server of unauthorized users and | | | | panel and select "Network and Internet |
| applying security patches Microsoft's | | | | Connections". You can also try Sygate |
| website. | | | | personal firewall. |
| | | | |
| The major threats to computer are viruses, | | | | Another security measure is to identify the |
| spyware, accidental deletion of the files, | | | | mysterious processes running at the backend |
| information theft and unauthorized access. | | | | with the operating system. These processes |
| More and more malicious codes are being are | | | | starts when the Windows startup. Identify |
| written to develop the viruses, Trojan | | | | the description and command line instructions |
| horses, spyware, malware and adware. | | | | for each process. |
| | | | |
| Applying local security policies on each | | | | Bad or weak passwords are the most important |
| computer in a network is a must and you can | | | | causes of the security compromises. A |
| access the local security policies in the | | | | password should never be a dictionary word. |
| Administrative tools in the Window's control | | | | A password has less chance to be cracked if |
| panel or by simply running it secpol.msc or | | | | it has been changed regularly. Always use |
| gpedit.msc. Remmeber that the key policies | | | | the combinations of the alphanumeric, symbols |
| that should be enabled are audit login for | | | | and spaces between words etc to make strong |
| the failed events, creating password policies | | | | password. |
| and requiring Ctrl+Alt+del for login. | | | | |
| | | | Last but not the least security measure is to |
| If you have made a shared folder in your | | | | encrypting your important files so that they |
| computer to be accessed by the other users in | | | | can't be accessed and read by the |
| network, make sure that you have set the | | | | unauthorized users. |
| permissions to access this folder to only the | | | | |