Microsoft has constantly evolved its Operating Systems to tackle the security risk in evergrowing internet and computing environment. Eversince Blaster virus hit Windows XP, security has become a key concern for Microsoft. With Windows 7, Microsoft has integrated state of the art tools that allow users & administrators to manage their computers more effectively, preventing data/identity theft. They have added features and enhanced some existing features to achieve this. Following is a list of some very interesting capabilities that Microsoft has bundled with Windows 7:
1. APPLOCKER
This is an application control policy that allows administrators to specify exactly what can be used on the computer. Till now, we had only “Content Advisor” in Internet Explorer to prevent kids from getting access to content that they are not meant to see. But imagine locking down the computer to a level where kids can only access ceratain applications that you specify. For a corporate environment, IT admins can specify what their users/employees can or cannot do. This takes security to a new dimension in domestic and corporate computing environment.
2. Bitlocker & Bitlocker to Go
Though Bitlocker was an active feature in Windows Vista, Bitlocker to Go is a new feature that extends security for removable media such as external hard drives and USB disks. With Bitlocker to Go, adminstrators can enforce setting up this feature on any removable media before any data is saved/copied to such devices. In a domain setup, policies have been introduced for password recovery, etc, making this very user friendly. Bitlocker is now easier to enforce through Windows 7 by just a right click.
barring its nagging resource hunger and features that are better disabled. Windows 7 Beta has thoroughly impressed me over past few weeks. Microsoft has kept the goodness and resolved most of the issues with Windows Vista. The installation process was extremely convenient and unlike my initial trouble with Vista, it installed all the required drivers effortlessly. The basic OS desktop performance was exemplory with no impact on performance while installing additional software/applications, downloading files, etc. The biggest inconvenience of User Access Control that used to pop up every time I wanted to install anything on Vista has been taken care of in Windows 7 through new ACTION Centre. This also provides concentrated information of all security related information. Like in Windows Vista, Windows Defender (Microsoft’s anti-spyware utility) comes pre-installed with the OS. There are loads of other features like DirectAccess, BranchCache, Enhanced Search, Bitlocker to GO, Windows Bitlocker and Applocker. Windows 7 will surely change the game of existing computing environment, both for home & business users. With the slated launch date of October22 this will surely change the game.