Also in local policies are the 'user rights
assignment' and 'security' sections, both of which contain a huge amount of user
based options for securing various parts of the operating system.
An option you may wish to consider here is to remove permission for any account to 'access this computer from the network' (in user rights assignment section), assuming that you do not wish to access the computer remotely, or host a WWW or FTP site.
The
'public key policies' section is most often used for enabling EFS, the
Encrypting File System, for encrypting personal documents
and information. PCSTATS covers this topic
extensively in the Encryption and
Online Privacy Guide.
'Software restriction policies' and 'IP security
policies on local computer' govern setting rules for restricting software that
can be used on the computer, and securing network traffic through the use of
encryption respectively. Both are best left to centrally managed business
environments.
Accessibility options
Windows XP comes equipped with a
large variety of what Microsoft calls 'accessibility options,' tools to make Windows
easier to use for people with visual difficulties or other problems
and disabilities.
These
can be accessed most easily from the accessibility wizard, found at
'start/programs/accessories/accessibility/accessibility wizard.'
Through this program you can manually change the default Windows text size,
scroll bar size, icon size, choose a high contrast colour scheme and mouse
cursor, activate captions for supporting programs and visual indicators to
replace sound effects for the hard of hearing as well as activate a range of
other options by indicating to the wizard where your difficulties using the
system lie. Besides above options, the various accessibility features you can
enable are:
StickyKeys: Allows any key
combination that includes CTRL, ALT or SHIFT to be entered one key at a time
instead of simultaneously.
BounceKeys: Windows will
ignore held down or rapidly repeated keystrokes on the same key.
ToggleKeys: Windows will play
a sound when any of the 'lock' keys are pressed, such as Caps Lock or Num Lock.
Very useful this.
MouseKeys: The numeric keypad
can be used to control the mouse pointer.
Magnifier: Opens a window at
the top of the screen that displays a magnified view of the area around the
cursor.
Narrator: Narrates the contents of system
Windows, including the status of things like checkboxes and options, for the
visually impaired. Rather difficult to use, and reminiscent of Hal 9000
in voice.
On-Screen keyboard: Provides a
keyboard option for users who cannot operate a physical keyboard.
A utility manager is provided
to manage settings for these three programs, controlling if they start
automatically when Windows is loaded, for example.
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