Tips for improving computer security under Windows XP, Part 1

Can a Windows operating system be secure? And to be more specific, can Windows XP be secure? Many users may tend to believe that security and Windows don't mix. We all heard about Windows security vulnerabilities, and learned how well-known computer worms like Sasser for example, took advantage of them to spread around the world, infecting millions of computers worldwide in just a few days. Despite these problems, the truth is, that a computer running Windows XP can be anything from completely insecure to a stronghold - depending on the steps you take to enhance security and protect yourself from Internet-based attacks, viruses and other security problems.

1. Do not rely on default operating system configuration. One of the major problems of Windows operating systems, at least in the past, was the default configuration. Windows computers have always been shipped either with operating systems installed using the default configuration, or with a separate install CD that does not offer the user any security related choices during the install procedure. And here we get to a deadly mix - a computer that is installed with a default configuration that is NOT intended for high security, but rather for ease of use and allowing the user to seamlessly install any additional needed software like office programs or software utilities etc, into the hands of the end user, which in most cases have no knowledge whatsoever, or very limited knowledge in the field of computer security; now just add an Internet connection to this mix and there we go - a real insecure case scenario. We need to understand that the default configuration for a Windows based computer is not strong enough, and that we need to learn more about it and configure our computer properly, to avoid security problems in the future. Although there are no specific tips here, there are several tips mentioned below in this article, that fall under this category.

2. Install Service Pack 2 for Windows XP. This is an important step for any Windows XP user that has not already installed SP2 on their computer. This service pack contains various security and non-security related updates for Windows XP. Here we refer only to security enhancements, and we have to mention here improvements like the Security Center that monitors basic security configuration and warns the user about possible risks and allows quick management of these security options; improvements to Windows Firewall, and additional protection for Internet Explorer. There are lots of other security improvements in Service Pack 2 for Windows XP, not that visible - under the hood changes that are invisible to the user but helpful in terms of computer security. Therefore, Service Pack 2 for Windows XP is a must have for any computer running an Windows XP operating system.

3. Keep your computer updated. One of the most important things you need to do, in order to protect your computer from security risks, is to keep it updated. All Windows operating systems have a generic lifespan of roughly 10 years; during this lifespan, Microsoft continuously analyzes security risks and constantly release new patches, upgrades and service packs aimed at fixing these problems. Most newly released worms will be using recently discovered Windows vulnerabilities to get into your computer and cause havoc; it is therefore extremely important to have your computer updated as quickly as possible in order to prevent such vulnerabilities from affecting you. To achieve this, the recommendation is to have Automatic Updates turned on; you may either choose to have updates been automatically installed for you, or to download them in the background and prompt you when new updates are about to be installed. Either way, having Automatic Updates turned on is a significant step in improving security for any Windows XP based computer.