Defending WinXP Pro -with what win-xp has to offer

Today I will tell you about various ways to Securing WinXP Pro with what win-xp has to offer by default. No extra third party software to tweak things which might make your system unstable and push it into the verge of reinstalling soon often.

Note: These are just notes of the changes i made to win-xp pro using win-xp options after my default install. These changes will not secure your box 100% but they make a good couple of 1st steps. They are in no specific order other than the order that I performed them.

1. NTFS Partition.
2. Disable Error Reporting
3. Disable Automatic Updates (only if your XP copy is pirated)
4. Disable "Recent Documents" Viewed
5. Setup XP Firewall
6. Setup screensaver password
7. Setup BIOS password
8. Setup "AfterBios" login password
9. Account Modifications
-Rename Admin Account
-Disable Guest Account
-Disable Help_Assistant Account
-Disable Support Account
10. Install a virus scanner.
11. Change Login Screen (default shows user names)
12. Disable Remote Registry (and other services)
13. Disable/Change Auto-Search settings in IE.-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. NTFS Partition (I like being God over system users)
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Be sure to install XP onto an NTFS partition so that you (the administrator) can take advantage
of file permissions. You want this option so that "you" can decide who reads, writes,
executes what files.

If you didn't install XP onto an NTFS partition. Convert It. To convert to NTFS follow
the instructions below.

Open a command prompt and type "convert c: /FT:NTFS /v"

This command will convert your c: partition from FAT to NTFS in verbose mode.

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2. Disable Error Reporting - we don't want microsft to know every time we fuck up.
especially if we didn't pay for winxp.
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control panel >> performance and maintenance >> system >> advanced >> error reporting
(disable all)

right click "my computer" >> manage >> services and applications >> services >> " stop
and disable" Error Reporting.

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3. Disable automatic updates - to update, they must know what we have. thats a NO NO!
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NOTE: DO THIS ONLY IF YOUR COPY OF XP IS PIRATED!! I suggest "auto update" if your copy
of XP is legal. If your copy is pirated then i suggest that you stay updated with
the latest fixes and patches manually.

control panel >> performance and maintenance >> system >> automatic updates
(disable updates)

right click "my computer" >> manage >> services and applications >> services >> " stop
and disable" Automatic Updates.

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4. Quit listing most recent documents opened under the start button - Don't want the
girlfriend or the parents to find that interesting things you being viewing lately.
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control panel >> appearance and themes >> task bar and start menu >> start menu >>
customize >> advanced

remove the check mark next to "List my most recently opened documents".

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5. Block incoming traffic to your winxp box. - Before this change, i scanned my xp box and
found it to have many ports wide open. After this change, I found nothing and xp logged
the attempts in c:\windows\pfirewall.log.
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control panel >> network connections >> right click "local area connection" >> properties
>> advanced >> check the box under "Internet Connection Firewall" then choose "settings".

Services Tab - leave all unchecked unless there is a service you are running that people
must be able to access.

Logging Options - Log everything.

ICMP - I left all these unchecked for the time being. (allowing nothing)

(this does not protect you from "Spy Ware". This only stops traffic from coming into
your win-xp box (not all traffic). It does not stop traffic from going out.) If you
need to stop traffic from going out and need a more secure firewall then download a real
firewall like "zone alarm or black ice".

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6. Setting a screensaver password in case you leave some of your sensitive documents open when you walk away.
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right click on the desktop >> properties >> screen saver >> check the box next to " On
Resume, Password Protect."

If you don't have a password set on your user account, you can do so in control panel >>
user accounts >> change account.

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7. Setting a BIOS password - We don't want anyone rebooting the computer or trying to sneak
into your system while we are away at school or work.
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I can't explain to one how this is done due to the differences between all computers and
how the BIOS settings are entered. If you know what I am talking about then do it. If you
don't know what I am talking about then learn how to do it. A screensaver password is useless
unless you setup a BIOS password.

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8. Setting up the "AfterBios" password. Sometimes bios passwords are easily cracked. This
password will add extra local login security in case your bios pass is cracked. I don't
know bout you but i love having to type in 3 passwards and a username to login to my box.
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Start >> run >> type "syskey" >> choose "update" >> choose "Password Startup" >> enter a
password and choose ok.

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9. Renaming and Disabling Accounts for adminstrator, guest, help_assistant and support.
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Right click my_computer >> manage >> local users and groups

rename administrator account
disable guest account
disable help_assistant account
disable support account

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10. Install Virus Protection............. (We like our uncorrupted data and trojan free system)
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Install a virus scanner. Your firewall might protect your system from unwanted hackers but
what about an unwanted virus or trojan?. I recommend installing a virus scanner such as
"Nortons" or "McAfee".

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11. Change Default Login Screen............ (why do we want to share usernames with anyone?)
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Xp uses the "welcome screen" by default. This screen has the names of all accounts on the
system so that the user only has to click on their name and type a password. Come on now....
We aren't that damn lazy. If we change this screen to the normal login, then prying eyes
will have to know a username and password to get in. Follow the instruction below to change
this.

control panel >> user accounts >> change the way users log on or off

uncheck the box next to "Use Welcome Screen" and choose "apply options".

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12. Disable Remote Registry..........(why would I need to edit my registry remotely anyway?)
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right click "my computer" >> manage >> services and applications >> services >> " stop
and disable" Remote Registry.

NOTE: disable any services running in this area that you aren't using.

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13. Disable/Change Auto-search in Internet Explorer. This is not really a security risk but it
is important to some people that prefer to keep their internet surfing to themselves and
away from microsoft.
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Open Internet Explorer >> Click the "search" button >> click the "customize" button >> click
"autosearch settings" >> FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS BELOW...........

DISABLE: In the "When Searching" drop down menu, select "Do not search from the address bar".
>> click "ok" >> "ok". Type an invalid address in your address bar and see if it
takes you to the msn search page or if it gives a "page not found" error. In this
case, the "page not found" error is what we want.

CHANGE: If you wish not to disable, but you wish to change it to your favorite "google.com"
search page. Instead of following the "DISABLE" instructions, follow the instructions
below. Choose "Google Sites (or whatever you prefer)" from the "choose a search provider
to search from address bar" drop down menu >> click "ok" >> "ok"


I,myself personally believe that there is much more to securing your box than this. Maybe i will come up with more information soon. Don't miss them...


Courtesy : http://myerudition.blogspot.in/