Microsoft Windows XP Unleashed

IN THIS CHAPTER

• Working with Email Safely

and Securely

• Keeping Intruders Out of

Your System

• Surfing the Web Securely

• Blocking Pop-Up Windows

• Understanding Internet

Explorer’s Advanced Security

Options

• Security and Privacy Options

for Windows Media Player

CHAPTER 21

Implementing Windows

XP’s Internet Security

and Privacy Features

As more people, businesses, and organizations establish a

presence online, the world becomes an increasingly

connected place. And the more connected the world

becomes, the more opportunities arise for communicating

with others, doing research, sharing information, and

collaborating on projects. The flip side to this new connect-

edness is the increased risk of connecting with a remote

user whose intentions are less than honorable. It could be a

packet sniffer who steals your password or credit card

number, a cracker who breaks into your Internet account, a

virus programmer who sends a Trojan horse virus attached

to an email, or a website operator who uses web browser

security holes to run malicious code on your machine.

Admittedly, online security threats are relatively rare and

are no reason to swear off the online world. However, these

threats do exist and people fall victim to them every day.

Luckily, protecting yourself from these and other e-

menaces doesn’t take much effort or time, as you’ll see in

this chapter, in which I discuss the Internet security and

privacy tools built into Windows XP.

Working with Email Safely and

Securely

Email is by far the most popular online activity, but it can

also be the most frustrating in terms of security and

privacy. Email viruses are legion; spam gets worse every

day; and messages that should be secret are really about as

secure as if they were written on the back of a postcard.

Fortunately, it doesn’t take much to remedy these and other email problems, as you’ll see

over the next few sections.

Protecting Yourself Against Email Viruses

Until just a few years ago, the primary method that computer viruses used to propagate

themselves was the floppy disk. A user with an infected machine would copy some files to

a floppy, and the virus would surreptitiously add itself to the disk. When the recipient

inserted the disk, the virus copy would come to life and infect yet another computer.

When the Internet became a big deal, viruses adapted and began propagating either via

malicious websites or via infected program files downloaded to users’ machines.

Over the past couple of years, however, by far the most productive method for viruses to

replicate has been the humble email message. Melissa; I Love You; BadTrans; Sircam; Klez.

The list of email viruses and Trojan horses is a long one but they all operate more or less

the same way: They arrive as a message attachment, usually from someone you know.

When you open the attachment, the virus infects your computer and then, without your

knowledge, uses your email client and your address book to ship out messages with more

copies of itself attached. The nastier versions will also mess with your computer by delet-

ing data or corrupting files.

You can avoid getting infected by one of these viruses by implementing a few common

sense procedures:

• Never open an attachment that comes from someone you don’t know.

• Even if you know the sender, if the attachment isn’t something you’re expecting,

assume that the sender’s system is infected. Write back and confirm that the sender

emailed the message.

• Some viruses come packaged as scripts that are hidden within messages that use the

Rich Text (HTML) format. This means that the virus can run just by viewing the

message! If a message looks suspicious, don’t open it, just delete it. (Note that you’ll

need to turn off the Outlook Express preview pane before deleting the message.

Otherwise, when you highlight the message, it will appear in the preview pane and

set off the virus. Select View, Layout, deactivate the Show Preview Pane check box,

and click OK.)

• Install a top-of-the-line antivirus program, particularly one that checks incoming

email. Also, be sure to keep your antivirus program’s virus list up to date. As you

read this, there are probably dozens, maybe even hundreds, of morally challenged

scumnerds designing even nastier viruses. Regular updates will help you keep up.

In addition to these general procedures, Outlook Express also comes with its own set of

virus protection features. Here’s how to use them:

1. In Outlook Express, select Tools, Options.

2. Display the Security tab.

CHAPTER 21 Implementing Windows XP’s Internet Security and Privacy Features552