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        Simple Ways to Harden Clients

Section(s): Security
Published on Nov 03, 2005.
Last Modified on Nov 03, 2005.
Last Modified by MitchTulloch.
Rated 2.2 out of 5 based on 12 votes.

Three simple ways to harden Windows XP clients.

If you can't harden client operating systems like Windows XP the same way you harden server operating systems like Windows Server 2003, then how can you harden your XP clients? Here are three simple ways:

Enable Windows Firewall to block unsolicited inbound traffic.
Install antivirus and antispyware software to prevent malicious code from running on your system.
Log on as an ordinary user for tasks like browsing the web and checking email, and only logon as local Administrator when you need to perform administrative tasks like installing new software.

Do these three simple steps and your XP clients will be pretty hard!

Cheers,
Mitch Tulloch
ITreader.net

About MitchTulloch

Mitch Tulloch was lead author for the Windows Vista Resource Kit from Microsoft Press, which is the book for IT pros who want to deploy, maintain and support Windows Vista in mid- and large-sized network environments. Mitch was also the author of Introducing Windows Server 2008 and technical project lead for the Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007 Resource Kit, both books also from Microsoft Press. For more information on these and other books by Mitch, see www.mtit.com .