Locking down an XP machine but still using the Internet?

  • Thread starter Thread starter ***** charles
  • Start date Start date
C

***** charles

Hi all,

Where are some good documents on how to lock down
an XP Home machine that still has access to the Internet?
Online is better but I would entertain a book or two?
Firewalls and login configurations would be high on my
interest list.

thanks,
charles.....
 
***** charles said:
Hi all,
Where are some good documents on how to lock down
an XP Home machine that still has access to the Internet?
Online is better but I would entertain a book or two?
Firewalls and login configurations would be high on my
interest list.

thanks,
charles.....
Click to expand...

If you want to block the internet connection, one way is to use Zone Alarm.
The firewall has two settings for this, "Engage Internet Lock or Stop all
Internet activity".

mi
 
Dunno if you have group policy on HOME?
go to RUN & type in gpedit.msc & see if it opens.
 
It might help if you explain HOW you want to lock down the computer.

Access to Internet and E-Mail?
Access to Drives and applications?
Access to modifications of the Windows Environment?
 
I don't want anyone from the outside to see anything on my
computer nor do I want anyone on the ouside to change
anything on my computer.

thanks.....
 
If you're computer is in a location where unauthorized people can access it, you might want to take a look at the Microsoft Shared Computer Toolkit. It allows you to protect the PC from unauthorized changes. It is intended mainly for school environments, but can be used anywhere. It's free of charge as long as you are running Windows XP.

Shared Computer Toolkit for Windows XP product overview:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/sharedaccess/overview.mspx
 
Thanks Ronnie,

I wasn't aware of the kit you mentioned. The computer in question is
only accessed at the keyboard by the owner. The worry is from the
Internet connection.

later.....

If you're computer is in a location where unauthorized people can access it,
you might want to take a look at the Microsoft Shared Computer Toolkit. It
allows you to protect the PC from unauthorized changes. It is intended
mainly for school environments, but can be used anywhere. It's free of
charge as long as you are running Windows XP.

Shared Computer Toolkit for Windows XP product overview:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/sharedaccess/overview.mspx

Ronnie Vernon
Microsoft MVP
Windows Shell/User
 
Most ADSL modems have firewall built in.
Go read up here at www.grc.com. Steve offers plenty of advice to make you a
bit more paranoid.
Follow the SHIELDSUP links for testing.
 
Ronnie said:
If you're computer is in a location where unauthorized people can
access it, you might want to take a look at the Microsoft Shared
Computer Toolkit. It allows you to protect the PC from unauthorized
changes. It is intended mainly for school environments, but can be
used anywhere. It's free of charge as long as you are running Windows
XP.

Shared Computer Toolkit for Windows XP product overview:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/sharedaccess/overview.mspx
Click to expand...

Unless one is an experienced user and administrator, do NOT play with that
"kit" unless you do ALL of the reading beforehand or you'll have a mess on
your hands as has happened to at least 9 people in the last year that I know
of in my own little circle. They've fixed some of the major bugs but others
still remain.

-- required uphclean.exe
-- requires 10% of your hard drive space: Needs its own partition on the
disk; you must create it.
-- and if/when one wants to remove it, going to Add/Remove isn't going to do
the job; a lot of things will have to be "undone" to remove it properly and
not leave problems.

And once you get it downloaded you'll find even more subtle little "funnies"
that have to be taken care of. This is NOT a tool for inexperienced people
but it seems to be recommended to same all the time.
--
 
First - I want to thank guys like Ronnie for laying out all the
possibilities. Tell me all the tools and let me pick.

Second - I think I could handle the kit if I needed to. If I
posted a vita I would blush.

Just looking for some good reading on xp security on the
client side.

In the computer field, one can't be an expert in "everything".

thanks.....
 
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