To safeguard Operating System from attacks and intrusions, the first step is to harden the OS. Workstation, desktops, servers, etc when purchased off the shelf come loaded with default settings. These settings may not always be done from asecurity point of view but from a performance angle. In other words, these settings may provide back door access to attackers/intruders thus causing harm to systems.

Hardening of Operating systems is essential, since it involves removal of all non essential tools and settings/configurations which might lead to security compromise. It is important to take a hard look at your Operating system be it Windows XP, NT, 2000 etc, so as to enable and activate the various security settings. Various checklists are available freely over the internet to help one out. You might take the help of some security expert you know. So if you recently bought a OS off the Shelf, it is time you took a look at the security settings!