Securing Windows XP
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/using/itpro/default.asp#section6
- Four articles from Microsoft to get you started. Forget about the built-in
firewall though, get yourself a firewall that will give you inbound &
outbound protection. XP's firewall will do initially.
Windows XP Service Configurations
http://www.blkviper.com/WinXP/servicecfg.htm
- very useful, thorough and nicely explained list of what services you might
need
Hints for securing Windows2000/XP
http://www.markusjansson.net/exp.html
- Good basic settings for security policies and some for services. Lots of
screenshots. Based on XP Pro.
XP Security HOWTOs
http://www.labmice.net/windowsxp/Security/default.htm
- many simple how to's that explain a lot of features to you (especially
some that are turned on/off in the "Hints for securing Windows2000/XP"
article)
XP Anti-Spy
http://www.xp-antispy.de/
- Software to turn off XPs silly list of spy features. Click on the British
flag for the english version.
Turn off Universal Plug & Play
http://grc.com/unpnp/unpnp.htm
http://grc.com/dcom/
Microsoft's DCOM security patch leaves DCOM running, open, and waiting for
the next malicious exploit.
Our 29 kbyte "DCOMbobulator" allows any Windows user to quickly check their
system's DCOM vulnerability, then simply shut down the unnecessary DCOM
security risk. This may be addressed in SP2.
If you are in to newsgroups and want some info or are looking for specific
info to do with XP, here are some dedicated newsgroups. The Microsoft MVP's
frequent these newsgroup as well as other knowledgeable people to help
others with their XP enquiries.
Microsoft Most Valuable Professional (MVP)
http://support.microsoft.com/support/supportnet/supportpartners/mvps/brochuregeneral.asp
Newsgroups;
news://msnews.microsoft.com/microsoft.public.windowsxp.general
news://msnews.microsoft.com/microsoft.public.windowsxp.hardware
news://msnews.microsoft.com/microsoft.public.windowsxp.help_and_support
news://msnews.microsoft.com/microsoft.public.windowsxp.newusers
news://msnews.microsoft.com/microsoft.public.windowsxp.games
news://msnews.microsoft.com/microsoft.public.windowsxp.setup_deployment
news://msnews.microsoft.com/microsoft.public.windowsxp.video
news://msnews.microsoft.com/microsoft.public.windowsxp.perform_maintain
news://msnews.microsoft.com/microsoft.public.windowsxp.photos
news://msnews.microsoft.com/microsoft.public.windowsxp.security_admin
news://msnews.microsoft.com/microsoft.public.windowsxp.winlogo
news://msnews.microsoft.com/microsoft.public.windowsxp.work_remotely
news://msnews.microsoft.com/microsoft.public.windowsxp.print_fax
news://msnews.microsoft.com/microsoft.public.windowsxp.network_web
news://msnews.microsoft.com/microsoft.public.windowsxp.music
news://msnews.microsoft.com/microsoft.public.windowsxp.customize
news://msnews.microsoft.com/microsoft.public.windowsxp.messenger