Security of small computer networks

The main topic of the book is the security of data against misuse by standard operating system means. The book describes how to work in Windows XP and Windows 2000 operating systems, is supplemented by a number of practical tips (how to enable the NumLock key at system startup, working with the Registry Editor, downloading the entire Internet Explorer installation file, etc. ). It is intended for non-professional administrators of small (non-server) networks. The rather complex issue is divided into several chapters. The first deals with data protection between users taking turns at the computer. It is explained here, what is a user account and profile, the principles of working with passwords are discussed, general security principles (password policy, account policies), discusses the Guest account. Data sharing options and setting folder sharing parameters are also discussed. The second chapter is devoted to data protection in networking. The options for configuring permissions in each operating system are shown, and the concepts of permission inheritance, folder ownership, and actual permissions are explained. The third chapter describes how to update the operating system, a way to keep it resistant to security holes. The main topic is Windows Update: where to find updates, how to perform them on a wired and switched network, and how to use Automatic Update. Chapter 4 discusses computer security checks. The main part is a detailed description of Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer, which analyzes the security settings of the PC and the entire network. Chapter 5 explains IP filtering; brief description of TCP/IP protocol and its components, explanation of the concept of gateway. This is followed by a hands-on demonstration of setting up the IP filters built into Windows XP and 2000 operating systems.Encrypting File System is the topic of Chapter 6, which introduces a new way to protect data in Windows 2000 and Windows XP Professional that is based on file encryption. In the last chapter you will find an overview of the shortened procedures of the most important activities. The book is supplemented by a practical glossary of important terms and an overview of TCP/IP ports.