10. Managing Computer Security

Chapter at a Glance

In this chapter, you will learn to:
	Administer Windows user accounts.
	Manage your Windows user account.
	Limit access to the computer, to programs, and to the Internet.
	Analyze your computer's security.
	Configure Internet security zones.

In the old days, computers were isolated from each other, and the only way to transfer information among them was on a floppy disk (now referred to as "sneaker net"). With the advent of networks, information transfer became easier, but so did the possibility that the information stored on a computer would be accessed inappropriately or even illegally from another computer. As networks have grown from small to large, and worldwide access to local area networks has become simple and commonplace, concerns about information security have also increased.

Computer security is a hot topic these days. The proliferation of Internet access and e-mail in homes and workplaces around the world has provided a new (and relatively simple) avenue for malicious intrusion into our lives. It is important to be aware of the possible security vulnerabilities of each computer you work on, whether at home, at school, at work, or in a public place such as an Internet café. It is also important to protect yourself on all these computers through correct network setups, appropriate virus scanning software, and informed computing habits.

In this chapter, you will create user accounts, change user account information, restrict user account access, and manage some of your computer's security settings.