Survive the first day after installation of Windows XP
By: Staff
Date: May 28, 2007
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One of the most serious problems which they face who receive their new computer with Windows XP just installed; or even those that reinstalled the operating system, or are forced to do it after the action of a virus, is to see their infected equipment as soon as they are connected to Internet, without they have had time to update his software. Or in the case of new users, to ignore that they must do it.
The reason is that from the publication of Windows XP, diverse vulnerabilities of importance security have been discovered, and exist many computer science worms and virus that take advantage of the same ones. It is not possible therefore; to guarantee the integrity of an operating system just installed and that has a connection to Internet, although is of temporary form. Therefore, the users of new equipment are before the dilemma to expose them and to become infected before they can unload and install the necessary updates.
The SANS Institute Internet Storm Center (http://isc.sans.org) has published a guide who helps to install of safe form to Windows XP. The guide, a document in format PDF, shows as to install Windows XP of a safe form, without risk that worms and virus affect to the user during the process of installation of the updates, that by the way will take a good short while with normal connections (almost 49 Mb at the moment).
This guide is directed to domestic, professional users independent, and small companies that accede to Internet of direct form, without using no system fire-resistant and which they directly unload the updates of the Web of Microsoft.
One is not a guide for the “fortification” of Windows. Those readers interested in increasing the security of Windows will be able to find at the end of this document diverse references. The steps indicated in this guide will have to be considered like the minimum actions to make during the first day of use of Windows XP.
The screen captures including are of the edition “Professional” of Windows XP. However, the diverse steps that are indicated are equally applicable to the edition “Home”.
The guide assumes that a new installation of Windows XP is being used made from the CD of the product. In case new equipment with preinstalled Windows XP has been acquired, some of the steps can that already the manufacturer has made them.
One is a brief guide, and the critical sections are indicated solely, so that it is really useful to the user who installs the operating system for the first time. All the other parameters of configuration can be left in their value by defect or can be fit in agreement with the preferences of each one (for example, the hour zone or the language).
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