Sunday, August 1, 2010

Windows 7/8 Secuity Settings

Introduction

1. The flexibility and convenience of Windows-based Operating System (OS) has resulted in being a widely used desktop environment. It is essential to use these desktop environments in a secure manner to avoid exploitation of the possible vulnerability of the OS. This article explains how to configure the security settings in Windows Operating System.

Windows Security Center

2. The Windows Security Center in Windows 8 /Windows 7 lets you view and change important security settings. It monitors your settings and notifies you if there is a problem. It is intended to serve as a hub to your computer's security settings, making it easier to understand what you need to do to keep your computer secure. Although you can choose settings other than those recommended, the Center helps you know when your settings are different from those suggested by Microsoft.

3. The control panel for the Windows Security Center organizes security settings into four categories for easy viewing. A green background indicates the category's settings are optimal, yellow indicates the settings may need attention, and red indicates a problem likely exists.

4. The easiest way to open the Windows Security Center is to type "security center" into the search box integrated into the Vista Start menu. The list of programs will be filtered down to only the Security Center, and you can start it by clicking the link or pressing Enter. You can also access the Security Center through the Windows Vista Control Panel. 5. Click on one of the links below to learn about the security settings Windows Security Center monitors.

Firewall
 
6. The firewall category in the Windows Security Center lets you see if Windows Firewall is on. Windows Firewall is a free firewall included in Windows Vista that can prevent unwanted access to your computer.

7. If you turn it off, Windows Security Center will draw your attention to the problem by changing the background of the category heading to red. A button makes it easy to turn Windows firewall on, or you can click on the Windows Firewall link in the left panel to change the Windows firewall settings
 
Automatic Updating
 
8. The automatic updating category of the Windows Security Center lets you easily see if your computer is configured to automatically download and install security and other updates from Microsoft. If your computer isn't configured for automatic updates, a button to change the settings is provided. You can also click the Windows Update link in the left panel to change your settings.
 
Malware Protection
 
9. The malware protection category in the Windows Security Center monitors your use of antivirus and other anti-malware software. Windows Vista includes Windows Defender, a program that protects against spyware and other malware. Vista does not, however, include an antivirus program. The Windows Security Center makes it easy to see if you have the malware protection you need, and it provides links to help you purchase antivirus software and control Windows Defender.
 
Other Security Settings
 
10. Windows Security Center also monitors your Internet Explorer options and makes sure you have User Account Control turned on. The Internet Explorer options help to secure your computer and data from malicious Web sites while User Account Control prevents unwanted changes to your system.


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