there not to much good to say about windows xp security. From a fesh install of xp. The system is wide open to multiple attacks. Like the MSBlast.exe virus/worm. If u didn't run a firewall that blocked the ports it used you would get infected. Anti-virus was not stopping it when it first came out.
Luckely I am imuned to this attack. Even if I was not running any security programs, like a firewall or anti-virus.
All the port that the virus ran on. Where closed on my Xp box.
Here are the open ports on my xp box:
svchost.exe:792 UDP 0.0.0.0:1025 *.*.*.*:*
svchost.exe:792 UDP 0.0.0.0:1026 *.*.*.*:*
svchost.exe:792 UDP 0.0.0.0:1033 *.*.*.*:*
This link will tell you how to reduce the network services.
http://www.hsc.fr/ressources/breves/min_srv_res_win.en.html
Lots of people get infected/attacked by e-mail's. A lot of the e-mail viruses are geared twordes Outlook Express otheres are not. I suggest not to use Outlook at all.
Mozilla, Opera, and Netscape work very well.
This program also helps protect your system from from viruses even if you still use Outlook.
http://www.analogx.com/contents/download/system/sdefend.htm
This site has an e-mail security test.
http://www.windowsecurity.com/emailsecuritytest/
There are also a lot of viruses that get spred through the internet. Internet Explorer has been notorios for security holes.
Mozilla, Opera, and Netscape work very well.
But also browser filtering is a good tool. It will alow you to spoof and block. Information you send and recive on the internet.
Proxomitron is a very good.
http://www.proxomitron.info/
Ad-ware is getting better.
http://www.lavasoft.de/
Other Security sites and free programs.
XP AntiSpy
http://www.xp-antispy.org/
Lock windows xp's Raw Socks
http://grc.com/dos/sockettome1.htm
Security test Sites
http://www.pcflank.com/
http://privacy.net/analyze/
http://grc.com/
http://www.cyscape.com/showbrow.asp?all=1
http://www.ccra-adrc.gc.ca/eservices/tipsonline/browser-e.html
http://www.leader.ru/secure/who.html
http://www.symantec.com/securitycheck/
http://www.verisign.com/advisor/check.html
http://www.multiproxy.org/env_check.htm
http://www.bartonet.com/netbus/content.htm
