Don't trash your machine, Call Tech Paul!
More ABC's of computer security, continued:
The very first thing I recommend you should do is password protect your machine with a User Account password, and set your machine to require entering it when logging on--you should also set a password for the hidden Administrator account (the favorite target of hackers). This is a very good step toward making sure that you, and only you, have access to your files and sensitive data.
((Note--there are ways for a determined hacker to 'get around' most defenses, especially if they have physical access to your machine. Password protection is a deterrent, not a fail-safe preventative. But think of it this way: you are a car thief. There are two BMW's sitting side-by-side. One has the engine running and is unlocked, while the owner has run into the store for a quick errand. The other is locked, has The Club© on the steering wheel, and there's a sticker in the window proclaiming "This Vehicle Is Protected By LOJACK". Which one are you going to steal?))
1) Set a password: begin by going into your
Control Panel, either via Start>Control Panel or Start>Settings>Control
Panel, depending on your version of Windows. Select (double-click) "User
Accounts".
Here's what you'll see in Vista. Click on "Create a password for your
account". Now enter a complex password, or phrase (a good example for a
horticulturist might be: BegoniasR#1!), and enter it again for
confirmation.
You can also type in a "password hint" for yourself. Don't make it so obvious that a hacker can use it to guess your password, though, as everyone can view your hint. Click on Create Password. Vista will now automatically require you to enter your password when you (or anyone else) log onto your machine.
In Windows XP (and older versions), it looks a little
different but the steps are the same: access User Accounts through the
Control Panel by clicking Start>Control Panel>>>User Accounts.
You
next click on each account you want to set passwords for, and click on
Create a password--then do as described above with confirm and tip. As
you can see, my account, Paul Computer administrator has a password
already set--but I am not stuck with that particular password, and can
change and improve it at any time. In fact, it is highly recommended
that you change your password from time to time. Why? Because if a
hacker has learned your password and gained access to your machine, you
cannot always tell. "Refreshing" your password will lock him out again.
The next step is to force users to enter the password
before logging on. For this you want the third option under "Pick a
task...", click on Change the way users log on or off.
Now
you will see a screen like this. Put a check in the checkbox labeled
"Use the Welcome screen". From now on, you will click on your User icon
and be prompted to enter your password.
The second checkbox, "Use Fast User Switching" is only useful if you have set up your machine with multiple user accounts because different people are using your machine. Fast User Switching is a method for, well, just that--quickly logging off of one user account, and onto another. (If you are interested in Microsoft's description and tutorial of setting up individual user accounts, click here.)
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P.R. Eckstrom ©2007