Is Your Password Really
Protecting You?
Windows XP uses the password as
its access control in allowing a
user to log into Windows. If you
don’t use a password for your ID in
Windows, anyone trying to log into
your machine using your account will
be able to do so.
That might happen when a child
starts or reboots the computer.
Without a password or a substitute
control (like a fingerprint reader),
anyone booting the computer will
start up Windows just as you do.
Another place that a lack of a
password can hurt is on Windows File
& Printer Sharing, which uses user
ID’s and passwords to control who
gets to access files and printers.
If you have the Guest User turned
off, anyone who does not have a user
ID and password on your computer
that matches the user ID and
password they’re using on their
computer, won’t be able to access
your files or printer. If you turn
the Guest user account on, they can
access the printer as Guest,
regardless of what user ID and
password they’re using.
Protection from the network side
of the computer needs to include two
major items. First, if you are using
anything other than a dialup account
(not that it’s not needed for
dialup, it just doesn’t work with
dialup!), you need a router to
isolate your computer from access
initiated from the Internet. If
someone can’t get to your computer,
they can’t access it.
Second, you need a good two-way
firewall program. A two-way firewall
will block or control access to your
computer that originates on another
computer. It will also block or
control access by programs running
on your computer when they try to
talk to the Internet or another
computer on a home network.
That way, if your computer gets
compromised by adware, spyware, a
worm or other malware, the firewall
program will help prevent the
problem from getting worse.
We would be glad to discuss your
needs and suggest appropriate
solutions.
Call Today. 368-5252
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For more information, tips and
resources visit
http://www.lodicomputer.com. I
hope you find this information
interesting and useful. If you have
any questions or need further
information. Call Today.
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