Windows Security - What you need to know

Written by weebit

Wednesday, 04 November 2009 18:07

This is a overview of the Windows Operating Systems Security features. Windows XP was not added to this because I wanted to concentrate on just the two newest Windows Operating Systems. This is just a short review nothing elaborate. Keep in mind I have access to a Vista computer, but no access to a Windows 7 computer. My report comes from observations online, and from computer users themselves.

Vista

While many gloat and bicker on what Vista lacks when it comes to security... I would like to point out that Vista is a little better at protecting the computer. But it lacks also. One can't ignore the many Vista patches that have been released too. So you may be safer, but you still have to keep your guard up. There are many back doors in Vista, and the security of Vista is just a marginal improvement over XP.

Vista does have better user control, and the many that cried foul over the XP firewall being only half of a firewall can rejoice because Microsoft heard you, and improved Vista's firewall. Also added was better control over users. Also one can not forget that Internet Explorer includes many security features that protect users from phishing and spoofing attacks. The best of the features include protected mode in IE, which helps protect user data and configuration settings from being deleted or changed by malicious Web sites or malware. granted it is not fool proof, but it is a big improvement. Now we can only hope that Windows 7 improves all of theses features, and then some. As a added note, Vista has shown a increase in the protection of data on it's computers. Less computers were infected running Vista, than XP.

Windows 7

It's hard to tell which direction Windows 7 will go. But as a added bonus the Windows 7 Operating System did use the core of the Vista Security. The difference in the two is that Windows 7 boast a improvement on the Vista security technology. Better control, and the Administrator can keep the security settings shipped with Windows 7 or improve them. I can tell you that you need to improve them. As of right now the new Windows 7 is being shipped to homes, and stores with the user Account Control Security set to medium. In order to get the full secure benefit of Windows 7 you need this on high. Yes this means more popups. But why boast that Windows 7 is more secure if you don't use it? Yes I realize that some of you will be tempted to turn this feature off. Microsoft created a slider bar for Windows 7 that enables users to control the amount of prompts. If you do disable this, or leave the setting on medium then your brand new Windows 7 computer will be open and vulnerable too attack. Malware writers are writing their scripts to attack those running the UAC at medium or lower.

The improvements in Windows 7 are:

Core System Security (kernel)

Integrated Fingerprint Scanner Support

Enhanced UAC (users account control)

Protecting Data

Bitlocker (Ultimate and Enterprise editions)

Bitlocker is advanced data security like encryption, etc. I do not know why Microsoft did not offer this to all of the versions of the Windows 7 operating system.

You need to know...

You still will need a firewall, and antivirus software for Windows 7. Windows 7 ships with these, but they belong to Microsoft. I have not tested the Microsoft versions. If you enable the Microsoft versions and put your UAC on high, later hopefully until the security test results start coming in for Windows 7, and for the security software included in Windows 7. However not to pick on Microsoft, I want to point out you do this regardless of what security software you intend to use. I do not have a computer running Windows 7. My older computer will not handle it either. So I will have to depend on other website reviews. Windows 7 is brand new, and no one really knows what it is all vulnerable too.

So now we sit back and see how the new Windows 7 does security wise. I can assure you that many have said it has been improved upon, and the new features do more to enhance the user secure experience. Hopefully Microsoft has a winner here when it comes too a more secure computer. Lets cross our fingers, and hope Microsoft is right this time. I sure hope they are right. I love winners.

Tags: windows security general