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Every Windows XP user should drop their rights


JurgenDoe

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DropMyRights is a free program from a Microsoft employee named Michael Howard, that greatly increases the security of Windows XP and has not gotten the attention that I think it deserves.

A big reason that Macs and Linux are safer than Windows is that running as a restricted user is the norm. Trying to run Windows while logged on as a restricted user comes with a host of problems, so the reality is that almost everyone runs their Windows XP computer as an unrestricted (Administrator) user. This is a shame, because it means that malicious software can be surreptitiously installed and once running, it can modify or delete critical Windows system files.

The way DropMyRights makes Windows more secure is by running selected programs in a restricted environment (i.e. with lower rights) even when logged on to Windows XP as an Administrator.

A Windows XP computer can be surprisingly vulnerable to malicious software, especially if you are not up to date on installing bug fixes/patches to both Windows and all your applications.

* Did you know that Windows can get infected just by viewing a Web page? It can.

* The old rule about not opening e-mail attachments is not sufficient anymore. Simply reading an e-mail message can infect Windows.

* There have been instances where simply viewing a picture could have installed malicious software.

Read the full story here

Edited by JurgenDoe
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