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roger_grimes
Columnist

Your handy PC security checklist

Analysis
Mar 15, 20113 mins
Cloud SecurityData and Information SecurityData Center

If you're in charge of securing end-user systems at your organization, print out this security checklist and put it on standby

In this emerging age of cloud computing, it’s easy to remain focused on the server side of the security equation. However, with crafty cyber criminals running rampant and the continued rise of APTs (advanced peristent threats), securing end-user systems remains critical. Hackers and other troublemakers have a variety of ways by which to turn a PC a perfect access point for wreaking havoc, be it via an outsider exploiting an unpatched vulnerability or an insider taking advantage of unncecessarily elevated privileges to swipe valuable information.

For an IT admin, it can be easy to overlook a critical step in making PCs, workstations, and laptops safe. Using this checklist as a guide should prove helpful in tackling the task.

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  • Are strong password policies used (at least 10 character minimums, maximum of 90-day changes, forced complexity, and so on)?
  • Is a password-protected screensaver enabled with a reasonable inactivity timeout set?
  • Are weak password hashes and weak authentication protocols, such as LAN Manager and NTLM Version 1.0, disabled?
  • Are secure file and folder permissions used?
  • Does the end-user log on with a least-privilege account when not performing admin-level tasks?
  • Are group memberships set to least privilege?
  • Is unnecessary software removed?
  • Is unnecessary autorun software prevented from autostarting?
  • Are unneeded services/daemons stopped or removed?
  • Are insecure programs (for example, TFTP) removed?
  • Is the browser securely configured?
  • Is all software — including the OS and all applications — fully patched?
  • Is up-to-date antimalware (antivirus, host-based firewall, antispam, and more) installed?
  • If firewall is used, are rules appropriately set (that is, deny by default, allow by exception)?
  • If wireless is used, are strong wireless protocols such as WPA2, EAP-TLS, and so on enforced?
  • If using cloud-based email, is it connected using HTTPS?
  • When connecting to cloud service, is HTTPS or other secure means used to communicate authentication?
  • Is there a secure email method being used to ensure that confidential information sent via email remains confidential?
  • Is logging turned on, reviewed, and used to generate alerts for anomalous events?
  • Is DNS resolution performed by secure DNS servers?
  • Is DNS hosts file correctly configured?
  • If the system is a mobile computer, is data encrypted?
  • If removable media is used, is it encrypted?
  • Are your end-user education documents up to date and cover the most likely attack vectors, including client-side threats, HTTP-based malware, and crimeware?

While there may not be any guaranteed protection against PC security threats today, taking the time to cover this checklist will save you many hours of future troubleshooting headaches.

This story, “Your handy PC security checklist,” was originally published at InfoWorld.com. Keep up on the latest developments in network security and read more of Roger Grimes’ Security Adviser blog at InfoWorld.com. For the latest business technology news, follow InfoWorld.com on Twitter.

roger_grimes
Columnist

Roger A. Grimes is a contributing editor. Roger holds more than 40 computer certifications and has authored ten books on computer security. He has been fighting malware and malicious hackers since 1987, beginning with disassembling early DOS viruses. He specializes in protecting host computers from hackers and malware, and consults to companies from the Fortune 100 to small businesses. A frequent industry speaker and educator, Roger currently works for KnowBe4 as the Data-Driven Defense Evangelist and is the author of Cryptography Apocalypse.

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