Summary

Windows Vista includes a variety of built-in tools and settings that help improve system security. Keep the following points in mind when using built-in tools and settings to secure your Windows Vista system:

Use the Processes tab in Task Manager to determine which programs and background processes are running on your Windows Vista system. Unknown or unfamiliar processes could be malware or other programs that represent a security risk.

Review the Security log in Event Viewer regularly to check for potential security issues that might need to be addressed, or to gather information on past events.

Periodically open the Security Center applet in Control Panel to check the status of your firewall, Automatic Updates, antivirus and antispyware programs, User Account Control, and Internet Explorer. Address issues as they're discovered, and keep an eye on Windows Vista's taskbar for Security Center warning icons and messages.

Review Local Security Policy and Local Computer Policy settings on a Windows Vista system to determine whether implementing any of these settings will help you to better secure and protect your system. Always exercise caution when implementing these settings, however, because all configured settings impact all users, including those with Administrator accounts.