Make This Change To Secure Windows 7

As individuals and enterprises migrate from their current operating system to Windows 7, a very glaring omission has the possibility to turn into a serious problem if left unchecked.

Software development BeyondTrust has completed a study that indicates a serious breach of Windows 7 is highly conceivable, only because users are allowed to operate Windows with administrator privileges. As much as ninety percent of these weaknesses and exposures can be avoided by not using the admin rights.

For user unaware of the consequences, the administrator privilege grants all access rights to every part of your system. When that occurs, your entire hard drive and access to your network is fair game. Equate it to leaving your entire set of house and car keys in the doorknob, your wallet on the front step, and leaving the front door wide open while you exit for the day.

Yes, Windows 7 does arrive with heightened security measures, such as the Data Execution Prevention, or the User Access Control, but the best protection of all still comes from user awareness and personal responsibility. Other popular hacker exploits, including Internet Explorer and the many malware/phishing/viruses that evade the electronic highways are ever present. Not to mention the seemingly harmless email link you may click on because it looks familiar, but turns out to be a very harmful, malicious invader to your system. By not running administrator privileges, when an attack does happen to your system, it only travels as far as the privilege rights of the user logged into the system. Therefore, the more vital functions of the system are protected.

Steve Kelly, the executive vice president of BeyondTrust’s corporate development, was quoted as stating, "Enterprises continue to face imminent danger from zero-day attacks as new vulnerabilities are exploited before patches can ever be developed and deployed. Our findings reflect the critical role that restricting administrator rights, plays in protecting against these types of threats. As companies migrate to Windows 7 they need to be aware that despite enhanced security features on the new operating systems, better controls for administrative rights are still needed to provide adequate protection."

The study from BeyondTrust discovered that by not using administrator privileges, up to ninety-four percent of Internet Explorer weaknesses can be stopped, one hundred percent of all the Office weaknesses, and up to sixty-four percent of all Microsoft exposures that was reported in the year of 2009. All from one simple change.

Yes, there will be users, especially higher level management and power users who want to have the ‘Hammer of Thor’ powers to install and uninstall whatever applications they desire, but it’s a very small issue compared to the larger legal and security concerns that need to be followed in order to prevent over seventy percent of the potential threats and attacks that can happen. The best procedure all companies and enterprises can follow is providing a solid course and knowledge base using Windows 7 training videos. This will insure users across the board will have a good foundation and understanding of the operating system and how to mitigate such problems from occuring.

About Us: Learning Planet is a solutions provider of Microsoft Office suite products and related software in an e-learning format. Learning Planet brings computer based training to the forefront with training CD’s and DVD’s full of interactive content illuminating various suite products including Word, Access, Excel, Outlook, and others you may utilize such as Visio, SharePoint Workspace, SharePoint Designer, and Project. Professional, highly trained and certified instructors conduct the training with plenty of hands-on demonstrations and labs, present in-depth discussions and deliver a very high level of instruction from the basics to the very advanced. Come to Learning Planet to fulfill your Office 2010 training requirements.