Security settings for Vista

I have finally upgraded from a computer running WindowsME, which was surprisingly stable for 6 years for me, to a new computer that comes with Windows Vista Home Premium.

So I am setting security settings for the first time and would really appreciate some guidance.

I am the only user of this computer. I would really appreciate your advice about whether these are appropriate settings for me and how to decide which of these to activate and why.

Right now I have it set like this:

Internet properties:
security for this zone -- medium (changed from medium high)
Privacy -- medium; pop-up blocker is on

Network and Sharing Center:
Network discovery -- on
File sharing -- on
Public folder sharing -- on
Printer sharing -- off
Password protected sharing -- off
Media sharing -- off

Many thanks for any advice you have to offer me!

 

Many thanks for your help!

 

to add, the firewall in vista is better than the firewall of xp, and the fact that you have to confirm every administrative task is a great security barrier, although it can be annoying at times, but unfortunatly zone alarm free firewall doesnt yet work with vista, but im not sure but if the equally good comodo firewall is compatible then use that instead! :major i-CONICA :major

 

your absolutely right halo, i checked out comodo and they do not yet have a compatible firewall, i didnt know za are in the process of getting a firewall out there, so thats good news, ill check that out, but one thing is for sure the vista firewall although being better than xps firewall it still cannot be trusted, its best used in your grandmas computer, im sure the times newspapers website is safe anyway, lol :major i-CONICA :major

 

This link may help all wanting programs that will run on Vista, etc.

Remember this is a work in progress.

Welcome to our Windows Compatibility List. This list features applications, games, and hardware that are compatible or incompatible with Windows Vista, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003, Windows 2000, and Windows NT 4.0/3.51.

http://www.majorgeeks.com/compatibility.html

Hope it helps. Bazza