Windows 7 comes with many new features and security is one of them. In Windows 7 security feature includes many options to protect your data as well as your computer. But by default it is not configured for maximum security, to strengthen the security you have to manually configure Windows 7. Bellow there are some tips to make your Windows 7 computer more secure.
Enable BitLocker:
BitLocker can be used to encrypt any volume on your hard drive, including boot and system drives. You can even encrypt your USB drive, you just have to remember 40-digit recovery key to access the encrypted drives.
Configure Internet Options:
Here you can set the internet option to maximum security.
- Go to Control Panel
- Select Network & Internet
- Select Internet Options
- Click on security tab, then check the Enable protected mode and Set all the zones, i.e. Internet, Local intranet, Trusted sites, and Restricted sites to high.
- Click on Privacy tab and check the following options
- Never allow websites to request your physical location,
- Turn on Pop-up blocker and
- Disable toolbars and extensions when In Private Browsing starts
- Click on settings button and set blocking level to High
Configure AppLocker:
AppLocker limits the use of applications and lets you to set up rules for authorized applications.
- Type GPEDIT.MSC in Start Search and press enter,
- Go to Computer Configuration
- Select Windows Settings
- Select Security Settings
- Select Application Control Policies
- Select AppLocker.
- Here you can select Executable Rule, Windows Installer Rule and Script Rule.
Adjust User Account Control:
This option always sends notifications whenever you try to install any software in your computer or even you make any changes to Windows. Lift the UAC slider bar to “Always notify” for maximum security.
Configure Windows Firewall:
- Go to Control Panel
- Click on System and Security
- Click Windows Firewall and make sure that your Windows Firewall is on.
- You can also go for advanced settings to set the inbound, outbound and protected network connections for domain, private and public Profile.
Advanced Sharing Settings:
- Go to Control Panel
- Select Network & Internet
- Select Network and Sharing Center
- Select Change advanced sharing settings
Set Public to the following settings:-
- Network discovery – off
- File and printer sharing – off
- Public folder sharing – off
- File sharing connections – Use 128-bit encryption…
- Password protected sharing – on
Please comment if the above tips are useful in making your Windows 7 PC more secure.
