Making Windows More Secure

[Dark Nations]

I've been google searching to help my dad get his computer up to snuff on the best known ways of getting Windows XP to be more secure.

I've come up with the following.

http://grc.com/dos/sockettome.htm
http://www.foxlogic.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=25
http://www.techspot.com/tweaks/windows_security/index.shtml

So far I've used the foxlogic.net tutorial, some of these others have a lot more detail, but I'm not sure if I understand most of it.

Any ideas from you guys?

[ice60]

make sure it's up-to-date - windowsupdate

safexp is good
http://www.theorica.net/safexp.htm

secureit
http://www.sniff-em.com/secureit.shtml

here's a good page to follow
http://www.markusjansson.net/exp.html

you could also install Sun Java too

http://www.firewallleaktester.com/wwdc.htm

then get some kind of kernel level protection like Process Guard, System Safety Monitor or Antihook. the problem with this kind of program though is you need to know what the processes you are dis/allowing are. then there's an anti-virus, anti-trojan and spyware scanner.

for a free AV i like antivir
free AT, ewido is very good
and for anti-spyware there's spybot, adaware and MS's program spyware defender i think that's its name.

alot of people like this too
http://www.tallemu.com/index.php?area=home

turn off any unneeded services and startups.

plus either make sure you secure IE or just use Opera or Firefox instead.

i just remembered registry protection
http://www.ghostsecurity.com/index.php?page=regdefend

[kubuntu2k6]

:cool: (http://www.armortex.com/products/window-fixed.html)

[sapo]

There is only one obvious way to keep windows secure, keeping it on the original cd, and preferably sealed :mrgreen:

[ComplexNumber]

There is only one obvious way to keep windows secure, keeping it on the original cd, and preferably sealed :mrgreen:
:mrgreen:
i was going to say:

Insert Win XP installation disk and click on "Format"

[Kernel Sanders]

To keep windows secure you need 5 things:

1) A good firewall
2) A good antivirus
3) A good antispyware
4) Firefox
5) There is no fifth

[kayas80]

There is only one obvious way to keep windows secure, keeping it on the original cd, and preferably sealed :mrgreen:

I agree, lol

[GoA]

To keep windows secure you need 5 things:

1) A good firewall
2) A good antivirus
3) A good antispyware
4) Firefox
5) There is no fifth

Norton internet security 2005/2006 and firefox and thunderbird. Works like a charm.

[bonzodog]

I would disagree with Norton...it's a beast of a thing to maintain, CONTAINS spyware, and requires payment. There are plenty of free anti-virus scanners.
My personal fave for any windows installation I am asked to fix (most of them have expired nortons!!), is AVG anti-virus from Grisoft. There is a totally free version for home use, and all the 'techies' I know use it.
Also remove Outlook and Internet Explorer ASAP, and replace them with Firefox and Thunderbird.
For added security, you can always persuade people to use the 'limited' accounts on XP, which will ask for an admin password when admin/install tasks are needed.

[Malphas]

A hardware firewall.

[GoA]

I would disagree with Norton...it's a beast of a thing to maintain, CONTAINS spyware, and requires payment. There are plenty of free anti-virus scanners.
My personal fave for any windows installation I am asked to fix (most of them have expired nortons!!), is AVG anti-virus from Grisoft. There is a totally free version for home use, and all the 'techies' I know use it.
Also remove Outlook and Internet Explorer ASAP, and replace them with Firefox and Thunderbird.
For added security, you can always persuade people to use the 'limited' accounts on XP, which will ask for an admin password when admin/install tasks are needed.

Be more spesific with these: hard to maintain and contains spyware.

I have tested these software's on my windows:

Kerio 2.1.5: Free, takes very little resources and does what it supposed to do.
Need to know something about firewall rules, good for a geek like me. :)

Avast!: Free antivirus software, does it thing easily.

Norton IS05/06. Big packs, installs lot of services and takes up resources but with new computer, this isn't notacible. Isn't free. Install and forget has been the way I used them, and I would definetly recommend those for beginners who won't know anything about firewalls etc.

Microsoft antispyware, ad-aware, spybot etc. Have tested them all, never haven't found anything so useless for me.

Other tested software: Outpost firewall, Sygate, Kerio's newer version, Zonealarm, AVG, Antivir, norton corporate antivirus.

But this is a question of personal taste so no more arguments, I like norton and I know that not everybody likes them. :)

[Kernel Sanders]

I've been google searching to help my dad get his computer up to snuff on the best known ways of getting Windows XP to be more secure.

I've come up with the following.

http://grc.com/dos/sockettome.htm
http://www.foxlogic.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=25
http://www.techspot.com/tweaks/windows_security/index.shtml

So far I've used the foxlogic.net tutorial, some of these others have a lot more detail, but I'm not sure if I understand most of it.

Any ideas from you guys?


I just realised something.........

You are sooooooooo busted!!!

I have a suspicion that if a mod checks the IP's he may find a correlation between Dark Nations and............. TechSonic/FoxLogic

So much for "this forum is run by trolls..... I quit" :rolleyes:

You do know that registering multiple accounts is against the terms and conditions dont you?

How did I know? You were trapped by your own vanity i'm afraid!

1) Your a brand new user

2) You said you had been "google searching" and come up with:
http://www.foxlogic.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=25

Which just happened to be the website that two of the biggest trolls ever to register here were peddling before they "quit" :rolleyes:

3) www.foxlogic.net (http://www.foxlogic.net) doesnt come up on a google search unless your searching for the word foxlogic.

4) The whole FoxLogic forum is BRAND NEW (A few days old), and has NO MEMBERS other than FoxLogic and TechSonic, and also, DOESNT COME UP ON A GOOGLE SEARCH

5) The post that you picked on was written by TechSonic and is again BRAND NEW (Written a few days ago) and also DOESNT COME UP ON A GOOGLE SEARCH!

Pathetic.....

You abused several members, including the forum admins before announcing that you "quit", and now you have registered an alias, and are again peddling your stupid little website? :rolleyes:

Post reported! :evil:

EDIT: More Evidence.......

From *****HERE***** (http://godlikeproductions.com/bbs/message.php?messageid=219990&mpage=1&showdate=3/8/06&PHPSESSID=273a6969efef86f0688f223342f01e78)

*****EVIDENCE***** (http://tinypic.com/view/?pic=r86l21)

He's even using the same avatar on a different forum!

[OffHand]

I use Kaspersky Anti Virus Pro atm. I really like it a lot but I might change back to Avast. One of the better free anti virus out there. For Spyware protection I run hitmanpro. It' s an easy script that runs several free and commercial programs. Perfect for a lazy person like me. For a firewall a hardware firewall is the best but if that isn't possible I would recommend Outpost Pro 3. I'm sure there are good free firewalls too. Just google it. Thats my personal setup which works for me. I don't have any links on this machine but you should take a look at the services too. Windows has a lot of stuff you don't need 'on' by default.
Use Firefox/Thunderbird instead of IE/Outlook.

P.S. HOST file works too: http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm

[Kernel Sanders]

I use Kaspersky Anti Virus Pro atm. I really like it a lot but I might change back to Avast. One of the better free anti virus out there. For Spyware protection I run hitmanpro. It' s an easy script that runs several free and commercial programs. Perfect for a lazy person like me. For a firewall a hardware firewall is the best but if that isn't possible I would recommend Outpost Pro 3. I'm sure there are good free firewalls too. Just google it. Thats my personal setup which works for me. I don't have any links on this machine but you should take a look at the services too. Windows has a lot of stuff you don't need 'on' by default.
Use Firefox/Thunderbird instead of IE/Outlook.

P.S. HOST file works too: http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm

I can personally recommend avast, and while i'm at it warn against ZoneAlarm! :evil:

For some reason tried to do something to my winlogon.exe file? I had to do a repair install after trying ZoneAlarm, terrible bloated terrible program! :evil:

[bjweeks]

The only thing windows need is a smart user not a bunch of software.

[briancrutin]

Well, I'm in college. I have found windows very secure. Just go through the updates, and you should be good to go.

[bjweeks]

http://www.foxlogic.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=25

That post is just stupid.

http://grc.com/dos/sockettome.htm

Is just ranting.

http://www.techspot.com/tweaks/windows_security/security-3.shtml

This is a good how-to but overboard because you can't stop somebody with local access to the computer from getting in.

[ice60]

For Spyware protection I run hitmanpro. It' s an easy script that runs several free and commercial programs.
hitmanpro looks good, but i wouldn't use it because of the spywareblaster update feature. Javacool charges for automatic updates and this program potentially takes money from him. i like javacool and know he dislikes this program.

[public_void]

I use ClamWin and AVG. ClamWin is very good, but isn't an on access scanner yet, and scan times can be long. This is because it does a good job as everything is scanned. It can be put on a USB stick and used to scan another computer without ClamWin on. AVG is okay, but I don't bother doing a full scan, as ClamWin is better for this. The two complement each other well.

I also use Spybot S&D and MS Anti-spyware, and have Hijack This. TBH most of this stuff isn't needed if your a smart user. IMO your the biggest security threat, no program is going to stop you doing the stupid things that get you infected.

[Leo_01]

Get a good secure firewall...
or a router.
Try Zonealarm if you got alot of RAM to kill and likes taking control of ALL incoming and outgoing connections.

[Ubunted]

1: Router.
2: Antivirus (AVG or Avast!)
3: Firefox.
4: Common Sense.

That is all.


My cousin purchased an AMD64 3500+ with half a gig of PC3200 and a 250GB SATA drive and it booted slower than my five-year-old laptop. Nuking Norton solved that right up. You can say what you will, but no matter how good the PC, Norton products always slow it down the same amount.

I REFUSE to reccomend any Symantec product to anyone. They are overbloated, paranoid, ineffective and slow. 90% of the people I speak to (I do tech support at an ISP) have an expired Norton on their PC mucking with their email or internet connections.

If you need an all-in-one security suite, have a look at F-Secure. They make good software.

[sapo]

4: Common Sense.


Thats the hardest one, if users had common sense in first place they wouldnt be using windows :mrgreen:

[mstlyevil]

Thats the hardest one, if users had common sense in first place they wouldnt be using windows :mrgreen:

Now now. Lets not isolate Windows users by insulting them. (There are quite a number of people on this forum who dual boot Windows including some staff. I am sure they do not appreciate being accused of lacking common sense.)

[sapo]

Now now. Lets not isolate Windows users by insulting them. (There are quite a number of people on this forum who dual boot Windows including some staff. I am sure they do not appreciate being accused of lacking common sense.)
Sorry, that was just i joke, i dont have anything agaisnt people who uses windows and i use it myself, but i just cant lose any oportunities to joke about windows.

[aysiu]

Why is it not common sense to use Windows? I don't understand what that comment is based upon.

I prefer Ubuntu, but there's nothing wrong with or stupid about using Windows.

[sapo]

Why is it not common sense to use Windows? I don't understand what that comment is based upon.

I prefer Ubuntu, but there's nothing wrong with or stupid about using Windows.
Ok, it was a bad joke :(

[aysiu]

Ok, it was a bad joke :( I understand the intent. I just worry the effect unnecessarily alienates some users.

[mstlyevil]

Ok, it was a bad joke :(

We are all guilty of bad jokes from time to time but there are some people that really believe that kind of garbage. I just prefer we do not give them a reason to start a flame war and take the thread off topic.

Now back to the original topic.

[eriefisher]

Windows is just fine when used responsibly:
-update-update-update
-antivirus
-firewall-hard or soft and configured
-spybot sd/adaware or other
-limited user accounts
-secure passwords
Somethings are only available in Windows

eriefisher

[Christopher]

I would disagree with Norton...it's a beast of a thing to maintain, CONTAINS spyware, and requires payment. There are plenty of free anti-virus scanners.
My personal fave for any windows installation I am asked to fix (most of them have expired nortons!!), is AVG anti-virus from Grisoft. There is a totally free version for home use, and all the 'techies' I know use it.
Also remove Outlook and Internet Explorer ASAP, and replace them with Firefox and Thunderbird.

I agree 100%

[Virogenesis]

don't worry sapo that joke of yours amused me...


1. Windows live disk (sorted!!)

or


1.)no IE, Windows media player, outlook or outlook express
2.) NAT Router with a software firewall or something like IPCOP
3.) decent AV (maybe nod32 or kaspersky)
4.) Adaware
5.) Make a guess account
6.) Only log into admin when you need to
7.) Turn off any unneeded services

Some more I can't think of them right now.

[egon spengler]

What worked for me on XP (only ever had one virus (I did something very stupid to get that) and so little ad/spyware I was worried spybot wasn't working)

kerio tiny firewall using modified rules from http://www.geocities.com/yosponge/
proxomitron using modified rules from someplace I forgot
opera or firefox instead of ie (you can't completely get rid of ie though)
thunderbird or opera m2 insted of outlook

[technicalevolution]

its impossible, it can't be done

why would you post this on a linux forum, the answer is staring you in the face....








use linux

[SunnyRabbiera]

here is a helpful guide (http://www.askmen.com/fashion/how_to_300/360_how_to.html)

:P

[Kernel Sanders]

its Impossible, It Can't Be Done

Why Would You Post This On A Linux Forum, The Answer Is Staring You In The Face....








Use Linux

Necromancing!

[wootah]

Why was a two year old thread revived?

PS: I hope someone enjoys my irony here.

[LaRoza]

Why was a two year old thread revived?

PS: I hope someone enjoys my irony here.

http://img181.imageshack.us/img181/8060/necromancingsv7.jpg