untangling_the_web

DOCID: 4046925
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steps you can take to improve your home computer security. It is important to keep
in mind that every computer, like every person, is unique, which means I cannot
cover every possible configuration that might occur. However, there are numerous
excellent websites that discuss how to enhance security on a home computer and/or
network, and I will point you to those sites.
Some of the best sites for home computer and network security for Windows' user
are the following:
Tweakhound's Securing Windows XP
http://www.tweakhound.com/xp/security/page 1.htm
Fred Langa's 5 Essential Steps To PC Security
http://www.informationweek.com/shared/printableArticie. jhtml?articlel D=177100010
NIST's Guidance for Securing Windows XP Home Edition
http://csrc.nist.gov/itsec/guidanceWinXPHome.html
CERT's Home Network Security
http://www.cert.orq/techtips/homenetworks.html
Gary Kessler's Protecting Home Computers and Networks
http://www.garykessler.net/library/protectinghomesystems.html
University of Cambridge's Securing Windows XP Home Edition for Stand Alone Use
http://www-tus.csx.cam.ac.uk/pcsupport/WinXP/collegehome.html
Lawrence Berkeley Lab's Checklist for Securing Windows XP PRO
http://www.lbl.gov/ITSD/Security/systems/wxp-security-checklist.html
Windows XP Security Checklist
http://labmice.techtarget.com/articles/winxpsecuritychecklist.htm
Tom-Cat.com's Secure Your Home Computer v.2.22
http://www.tom-cat.com/security.html
Download Operating System, Browser, &Other Software Updates
Regularly
If you have a slow Internet connection, this is a painful process, but it is necessary.
Many updates are in fact security patches in response to reported vulnerabilities.
You should also be aware that the patches are not always explicitly described as
fixing a security flaw. Updates are not the same thing as new version releases. New
versions often (dare I say usually?) have new vulnerabilities, so the best advice is to
wait until a new version has been around for a while before downloading it. Be sure
to check Microsoft's Security page frequently for news, updates, and patches. Also,
don't forget other software, such as Microsoft Office, which needs to be patched and
updated separately.
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