Why This Chapter Matters

The goal of this chapter is to teach you how to protect computers by using a variety of methods and techniques. Applying critical Microsoft Windows updates, configuring the Internet Connection Firewall (ICF), and protecting the computer from viruses are all extremely important to the overall dependability and stability of a computer or network.

Note

The information and procedures in this chapter are based on a default installation of Windows XP Professional. Some of the information and procedures may change if you have installed Windows XP Service Pack 2. Consult Appendix A, “Windows XP Service Pack 2,” and Appendix B, “Changes to Functionality in Micrsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2," for more details.

Before You Begin

Before you begin this chapter, you should have basic familiarity with the Microsoft Windows XP interface. You should also have access to a computer running Windows XP, on which you can experiment with changing various settings. Your computer must be connected to the Internet in order to complete tasks related to using the Windows Update website.