Security in XP

[JayE]

Hi,

I keep hearing that security in XP is much better than in 98.

Can you elaborate on what this actually means in practice. eg. can I prevent users getting access to parts of Control Panel and if so, how easy is it to do this? I look after a small network running on NT and want to know what advantages XP gives me over 98 as far as security.

I look forward to your assistance.

Regards,
Jay/UK

 

[FatFingerTony]

Windows XP is built from the same platform as Windows NT and 2000, so it was written from the start as a secure os. Windows 9x really has no built in security features at all, relying completely on a server to administer policies to it. Even then, any Windows savvy tech can crawl right into a Win98 box even if policies are running.

Check out these web sites:

Here is a breakdown of WinXP's Group Policy:

http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/techinfo/planning/management/groupsteps.asp

Here are a lot of WinXP docs, with a whole security section:

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/techinfo/articleindex.asp

A Windows 2000 Domain based network running Group Policy Objects with Windows XP Pro clients can be made very secure, removing access to any system component, hiding icons on the desktop, removing the Run command, preventing access to drives (yes, even C, preventing any installs to run, you name it.