[olug] OT: "Securing" a WinXP Home Edition Machine

[Jay Swackhamer]

Based on what I has come through my store for repair, on a clean install
or a cleanup, I typically.

start->run->msconfig (turn off startup items that are not needed)
Windows update->Windows update->windows update
Install: AVG Anti-virus http://www.grisoft.com
         Spybot Search & Destroy->update->immunize->scan
         cwshredder
         set an administrator(startup in safe mode) & user passwords
         FireFox(tell them not to use IE unless they have to)

> Gang,
>
> 	Despite my best efforts to talk some great friends into purchasing a
> Mac, they purchased a Dell machine with WinXP Home Edition; thankfully,
> I managed to convince them *not* to hook up to the Internet until I had
> a chance to prep their machine. So...now I need some security assistance
> from all of you WinXP users since I have absolutely zero experience
> working with WinXP (Debian at home; Win2K at work).
>
> 	I intend to set them up with FireFox (web-browser) and Thunderbird
> (email) to immediately eliminate the IE/Outlook virus injection system.
> What I need to know is what I should be looking at with regards to
> patches (auto-updates), recommended spyware/adware programs, etc.
>
> 	Any help is greatly appreciated.  I thought I was going to have more
> time to get this information but I just found out that they got their
> system today.  They are a very good friends and use this machine for
> business so I intend to help them out this weekend.
>
> -raj
>
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-- 
Jay Swackhamer
Reboot The User
15791 West Dodge Road
Suite 135
Omaha, NE 68118
(402) 933-6449
(402) 933-6456 Fax
http://www.RebootTheUser.com