As most of you probably do know, Windows, be it NT, 2000 or XP (and probably Vista, but I can’t help here) do, by default install, offer services that are not really needed by the average user, but open doors for hackers and alike unwanted intruders.
Many people, for example, like to have their unique XP theme installed.
Since most services, the “Designs” services included, depend on other services that tend to open certain ports while running, it is really recommended to disable those services (even if this means you’ll have the classic windows look)
Yes, and even if you have a firewall installed.
On the other hand, some people who tell you that, after having the ports-opening services disabled, you won’t need any firewall at all, are not right.
The best thing you can do, is, IMHO, to disable unnecessary services AND run a good firewall.
But most people are not aware which services are necessary to run and which are not, so they don’t ever dare to put their hands on them.
How to see which services are running? which services are automatically running at sys start?
very simple: in your starting folder execute field, you just enter: services.msc
well, and there they are
now part 2 about how to disable the dangerous ones
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