Monday, November 30, 2009

Ten Talismans to Guarantee Windows 7 Security

According to Eweek, an informational website, statistic shows that quite a few users express worry about Windows system security. As a matter of fact, Windows has become the primary target of malware attacking due to the great market share as high as 90%.

For this reason many users requiring high-level system security have to give up Windows and turn to Snow Leopard or Linux instead. This situation, however, is expected to change to a better one for Microsoft as the release of Windows 7, which comes with advantages of its previous ones and a series of new security protection functions. Here list ten of the all measures guaranteeing Windows 7 security.

1. UAC (User Account Control)

This function was first adopted on Vista. It effectively stops unauthorized operations while it delivers prompts so often that fluency is nipped from time to time. Windows 7 inherits Vista’s advantage and improves UAC. On the premise of security ensured unnecessary prompts are cut off to the greatest extent.

2. MSE (Microsoft Security Essentials)

MSE is free antivirus software for Windows customers. It is the third generation security product Microsoft has released.

Talking objectively, no companies else know more about Windows’ vulnerabilities, so MSE’s behavior is worth expecting.



In addition, you may need some other tools to bring up Windows 7 security to full strength, for any antivirus software has its shortcomings anyway.

Nowadays there is special software for certain part of security protection. Compared with traditional antivirus software, they perform in a more efficient and effective way to remove spyware, trojan virus and so on, in their special field, being more well-directed.

The author recently finds a fine security tool named Wondershare Spyware Removal. It does well in spyware, trojan virus and other malware removal, proactive defense, etc., and the best thing is, it’s free now. Before 28th, Feb, 2010, you can get free registration code to activate Wondershare Spyware Removal. In the next six months after you activate with the code, you can use it, update it and get customer service for totally free. Perhaps you would like to try it.

3. Biometric Identification Technology

Biometric Identification Technology is more and more widely applied. On the new system there are similar functions to enhance Windows 7 security. Configuration like fingerprint identification can keep malware and virus away and save you from worrying about files being viewed by others.

4. Action Center

Security Center on XP is named as Action Center on Windows 7. In Action Center, besides viewing all events (problems, reports, solutions), there are backup and restore function as well as other functions protecting data and Windows 7 security.



5. Firewall

Firewall on Windows 7 gets improvement, allowing users to set different security level to gain more experience on premise of guaranteeing security.

6. Windows Update

Every Tuesday Windows systems pops-up update tips. Windows Update is an automatic update tool provided by Microsoft and we extend system functions and fix vulnerabilities via it, making the system support more hardware and software.

In days to come it will perform an important role on Windows 7 security improvement.

7. BitLocker

Encryption is a key part in any system security plans. The improved BitLocker is to solve problems of data loss or malicious leakage caused by computer device physical loss.

Windows 7 lets users have more flexibility when setting hard drives and BitLocker is even able to encrypt automatically.

8. AppLocker

AppLocker is a new function in Windows 7 security strategy. It’s very convenient to deploy via AppLocker administrator to enable users to allow what programs and scripts to run and what to install.

Since AppLocker is based on Group Policy, we can deploy it to the whole network environment, no need to deploy repeatedly.


9. WFP (Windows Filtering Platform)

This technology was first adopted on Vista, too. It consists of a series of system services and APIs. Users can subsume accepted applications to reduce occurrence of interference in normal operations and enhance Windows 7 security at the same time.

10. IEEE-1667

IEEE 1667 ("Standard Protocol for Authentication in Host Attachments of Transient Storage Devices") is a standard published and maintained by the IEEE (an international non-profit, professional organization for the advancement of technology related to electricity) that describes various methods for authenticating transient storage devices such as USB flash drives when they are inserted into a computer.

On 25th November 2008 Microsoft announced that IEEE 1667 will be implemented on Windows 7. It means USB drives can only exchange data with computer after being authenticated and any USB drives inserted will be verified automatically to avoid the third party getting the data.

The combination of IEEE-1667 and Windows 7 not only indicates an unprecedented guarantee of transient storage devices and Windows 7 security, but also a common criterion for transient storage encrypting technology.

Above are the ten talismans this article introduces. There are many others more for users to explore and they may have their own talismans to guarantee their Windows 7 security. No matter what they are, to build an indestructible system is our common aim.