To protect information in a computer, firewall programs are usually used. However, Windows OS has rules for setting up a working environment to improve security. These rules are called security policies. If used correctly, the risk of system breaches is greatly reduced.
Instructions
Step 1
If your computer is running Windows XP, from the Start menu, open Programs, then Administrative Tools. Select the Local Security Policy snap-in. You will need to configure your account policy and local policies to prevent unauthorized access to your computer.
Step 2
Expand the Password Policy icon. On the right side of the screen, under the "Policy" section, a list of parameters that you can change will be displayed. To make it harder for attackers to brute force a password to log on to the system, enable the Password must meet complexity requirements
Step 3
Right-click on the item and select the "Properties" command. In the Local Security Option tab, click the switch to the Enabled position. To find out what the password requirements will be, go to the Parameter Explanation tab.
Step 4
In principle, any code can be expanded using the brute force method - the question is how long it will take. If the login password changes from time to time, the chances of hackers to break into the system will be significantly reduced. Use the Maximum Password Age option. If you set this parameter to 0, the code will be valid indefinitely. The validity period can be set from 1 day to 999. It is reasonable to change the password once a month.
Step 5
To prevent repeated use of the same code, use the "Require unique passwords" option. Its value can be from 1 to 24. It determines the number of passwords associated with a particular account.
Step 6
However, if users do not want to remember new passwords all the time, they can return the old code. To prevent this, use the Minimum Password Age setting. Set the period during which the set password will be valid. If the parameter value is 0, you can change the code immediately.
Step 7
Expand the Account Lockout Policy. In the "Blocking threshold" parameter, you can set the number of attempts to enter the login password. Using the values "Account lockout …" and "Reset lockout counter …", determine how long it will take for the user to try to log in again.
Step 8
If the information is critical, you can set the unlock manually by the network administrator. To do this, set the "Account lockout …" parameter to 0.
Step 9
In the Local Policies group, use the User Rights Assignment item to determine the ability of member groups to independently take actions that may affect the security of your computer.
Step 10
Activate the item "Security Options". Here you can enable or disable the use of removable media and drives for different user groups, access to the Guest account information, installation of drivers and software, etc.
Step 11
To run security policies in Windows 7, use the Win + R keys to invoke the Run dialog. In the open line, enter the command secpol.msc. You can do it differently. From the Start menu, invoke the search bar and type Local Security Policy.
