Making internet connection available to all users on win2k?

[Guest]

Greetings!

I am trying to make my win2k pro machine more secure due to recent problems
that caused me to have to reformat and repartition my harddrive and
reinstall. I used to run my computer using the option presented upon install
that tells windows to assume that a single user is always logged on. Inspite
of firewalls and antivirus I suspect that someone snuck something by thrashed
my file records. I have been using windows for quite a while but have never
taken the time to learn anything about it except how to do the basics that I
need. I have been told that it is a bad thing to stay logged on with Admin
rights, especially while surfing the web because it exposes your computer
more easily. I have followed this advice and created another user with
restricted privledges that I intend to use most times except when I need to
install stuff. Problem is, I can surf the internet just fine while logged
in as Administrator, but when I log in to my restricted account...I can't
connect. How can I make the internet (and all installed programs for that
matter) accessable to my restricted account so that the only time I log in as
Admin is when I need to install more stuff?

Thanks,
Mark

 

[Damien McBain]

Greetings!

I am trying to make my win2k pro machine more secure due to recent
problems that caused me to have to reformat and repartition my
harddrive and reinstall. I used to run my computer using the option
presented upon install that tells windows to assume that a single
user is always logged on. Inspite of firewalls and antivirus I
suspect that someone snuck something by thrashed my file records. I
have been using windows for quite a while but have never taken the
time to learn anything about it except how to do the basics that I
need. I have been told that it is a bad thing to stay logged on with
Admin rights, especially while surfing the web because it exposes
your computer more easily. I have followed this advice and created
another user with restricted privledges that I intend to use most
times except when I need to install stuff. Problem is, I can surf
the internet just fine while logged in as Administrator, but when I
log in to my restricted account...I can't connect. How can I make
the internet (and all installed programs for that matter) accessable
to my restricted account so that the only time I log in as Admin is
when I need to install more stuff?

Change your restricted a/c to admin & set up your internet options then back
to user.

IMHO this is a waste of time though. If you take the necessary precautions:
- change your options such that you must log on to your computer using your
password (which you don't tell anyone).
- keep Win2k updated preferably with auto updates
- run some av s/w (I use Avast - free to the home user)
- use a decent router with a firewall
- don't click 'yes' when confronted with a di box that wants to install
something
- periodically run Adaware and Spybot S&D
- stay away from porn, gamblin and warez sites
then the odds of having an internet related security problem are slim unless
a hacker specifically wants to get you. If you already do all this then I
would be surprised if your problem originated from general internet use.

I don't know anyone who does not use their home pc with admin privelages
(except Linux users who avoid logging in as root).

HTH!

Damo

 

[Guest]

Thanks Damien. I guess I'm just being paranoid. I've managed to surf the
web for years without incident just by taking common precautions and using a
firewall, plus I don't peruse any of the aforementioned sites anyway. This
last problem that I had couldn't be resolved without a total reformat of my
harddrive...which is why I suspected something managed to sneak in. I tried
repairing and reinstalling windows using the same partition but it only
worked for a few days before it came crashing down again, until I reformated
my HD and now everything is OK. I just want to keep it that way.

Mark

 

[Damien McBain]

Thanks Damien. I guess I'm just being paranoid. I've managed to
surf the web for years without incident just by taking common
precautions and using a firewall, plus I don't peruse any of the
aforementioned sites anyway. This last problem that I had couldn't
be resolved without a total reformat of my harddrive...which is why I
suspected something managed to sneak in. I tried repairing and
reinstalling windows using the same partition but it only worked for
a few days before it came crashing down again, until I reformated my
HD and now everything is OK. I just want to keep it that way.

I don't use it, but I have heard good things about Linux as a safe and
secure OS if internet is your main use.
Sorry if this is a politically incorrect suggestion in a ms ng