THE THREAT OF ONLINE SECURITY: HOW SAFE IS OUR DATA?

 

Although we can't promise that these tips will keep you 100 percent safe from hackers, but they’ll certainly make it a lot harder for interlopers to read your e-mail and IMs, fill your computer with spyware and track your Web-surfing habits.

Tips to Windows Online Security & Privacy
There are a few tips such as solutions for various popular applications which should make your system more secure and less prone to viruses. The tip has been prepared with Windows 2000 and XP users in mind, and there are a lot of the stuff that are contained here can also be applied to earlier versions of the OS to Internet Explorer and Outlook Express.

Update, Update, Update

It is very important to apply patches to your system, particularly in the case of Windows itself and Internet Explorer (most certainly if it’s your default browser) which has security holes found, usually patched soon afterward. A complete listing for Windows 98 SE, ME, 2000 and XP versions can be found on updated page.

Another extremely worthwhile download would be PivX Qwik-FIX, which adds further protection against various Windows/Internet Explorer vulnerabilities. Certainly if Internet Explorer is your browser of choice it will be worth getting.

If you' re using Windows 2000 or XP, Microsoft has an extremely useful utility available that can scan your system for potential vulnerabilities and updates as well, called Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer. We even have a guide for using:

 

Guide 1: Networking components

 MBSA requires several Services installed & activate in order to ensure it can operate correctly. To account for any Windows 2000 differences please see information in brackets. To ensure these Services are available click on Start, (Settings) Control Panel, Network Connections (Network & Dial-up connections) & right click on your Internet connection & select Properties. Finally select the Networking tab.

Ensure that, as shown above, that Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) (Protocol), File & Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks (Service) & Client for Microsoft Networks (Client) are installed. If any of these are not installed then select the Install button & select the Client/Service/Protocol & select the respective component to be installed.

Guide 2: Services

Now click on Start, (Settings) Control Panel, Administrative Tools & select Services. 

 

Whenever you intend to run MBSA load this utility, right click on & select Start for the following Services: Server & Workstation - You may find it more convenient to set these to Automatic instead, to do so right click on the respective Service & select Properties then the General tab & change the Startup type accordingly.

The Remote Registry service may also be required for some systems, though most likely not on stand-alone PCs (At least not on mine).

For more detailed information on adjusting Windows 2000/XP Services be sure to check out the Windows 2000 or Windows XP Services Guides. This can also aid you in better securing your system.