Chapter 15. Maintaining Security

15. Maintaining Security

In this section:

• Know Your Rights

• Setting, Changing, and Resetting Passwords

• Restricting User Rights

• Monitoring Your Security Settings

• Configuring the Windows Firewall

• Restricting Access to Web Content

• Restricting Computer Access

• Setting Internet Explorer Security

• Restricting Content in Windows Media Center

• Creating Trusted Contacts

• Foiling E-Mail Viruses

• Installing Critical Fixes

In days of old, only the administrators of large corporate networks dealt with computer security. These days, with the proliferation of computer viruses, constant connections to the Internet, home networks, and sophisticated hacking techniques used by an ever-growing cadre of snoops and pranksters, everyone should be vigilant. In this section you'll find valuable information about the ways you can protect your files, your privacy on the Internet, and so on. If other people use your computer, you can protect your files from prying eyes by restricting user rights, by creating a password that protects the computer from unauthorized access, or by locking your computer.

Windows Vista provides many powerful built-in security features, but you have to do your part too, so in this section you'll find a useful list of things you can do to improve your own security, including checking in periodically with the Windows Security Center to verify that your firewall, virus protection, and software updates are working hard to protect your computer. If several people use your computer (especially if any are children), you can use parental controls to restrict access to games, TV, movies, and Internet sites that contain material you consider inappropriate, and you can apply similar restrictions to movies and DVDs in Windows Media Center.