Lock It Down!

(WARNING: One wrong move could lock you out of the system directories completely, rendering Windows unbootable. Before and after employing this method, I recommend backing up your hard drive with Acronis True Image. You should be doing this anyway; even if you never get infected, every hard drive fails eventually. Order your copy today, and preserve not just your current settings in Windows, but the entire system. The most secure computer is one that is backed up.)

1.

1. Hold down the "Ctrl" and "Alt" keys while pressing "Del" on your keyboard.

2.

2. Click "Log Off..."

3.

3. Click "Yes".

4.

4. Login to the "Administrator" account.

5.

5. Hold down the "Ctrl" and "Alt" keys while pressing "Del" on your keyboard.

6.

6. Click "Change Password..."

7.

7. Type a new password into the "New Password" and "Confirm New Password" fields, and then click "OK".

8.

8. Click "OK" again.

9.

9. Click "Log Off..."

10.

10. Click "Yes".

11.

11. Login to your everyday account.

12.

12. Open "My Computer".

13.

13. Open the drive Windows is installed on (almost always "C:"). Click "Show Files", if necessary.

14.

14. Alternate-click (right mouse button) on the "WINNT" folder, and select "Properties".

15.

15. Click the "Security" tab.

16.

16. Click "Add".

17.

17. Click inside the large, empty box, and type your username.

18.

18. Click "Check Names".

19.

19. Assuming you've typed your username correctly, the computer name should now appear in front of it.

20.

20. Click "OK".

21.

21. Select your username under "Name".

22.

22. Under "Permissions," tick the "Deny" checkbox corresponding to "Write".

23.

23. Click "Apply".

24.

24. A warning box appears, advising you that deny permissions take priority over allow permissions. Click "Yes" to confirm your decision.

25.

25. Click "Advanced..."

26.

26. Tick the checkbox corresponding to "Reset permissions on all child objects..."

27.

27. Click "Apply".

28.

28. Click "Yes" to confirm your decision.

29.

29. Close the Explorer window by clicking the "X" button at the upper-right-hand corner of the window.

30.

30. Click "OK".

31.

31. Click "OK" again.

end of lesson 1

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