Checking In with the Windows Vista Security Center

Take a minute to check your PC's safety with Windows Vista's Security Center. The Security Center more closely resembles a large panel of On switches than a command post. It lists Windows Vista's four main defenses, tells you whether they're activated, and provides handy "On" switches to activate any that may be turned off.

Shown in Figure 1, the Security Center shows whether you've turned on Windows Firewall, Microsoft's Automatic Updates feature, malware protection against viruses and spyware, and other security settings, like the ones in Internet Explorer and Vista's new User Account Control.

The computer tested in Figure 1 passes the firewall test because it's listed as On. But the Security Center cautions that Windows isn't updating automatically, nor is it protected from maladies like viruses and spyware.

All these defenses should be up and running for maximum safety, because each protects you against different things.

To make sure that your computer's big cannons are loaded and pointing in the right direction, open the Security Center and check the following settings:

1. Open the Start menu's Control Panel, choose Security, and then choose Security Center.

The Security Center, shown earlier in Figure 1, hops into action and displays your computer's current security status in the following four categories.

If the Security Center says that it's been disabled, click Turn On Security Center.

• Firewall: Windows Vista's updated, more powerful firewall monitors every connection arriving at your PC. When the firewall notices an unrequested connection trying to enter, it blocks it, stopping potential intruders.

• Automatic updating: When turned on, Windows Update automatically checks in with Microsoft through the Internet, downloads any new safety patches, and installs them, all for free, and all without any effort on your part.

• Malware protection: Vista's malware protection contains two parts: virus protection and spyware protection. Vista lacks a virus checker, so you must buy your own online or at a computer or office-supply store and pay subscription fees to keep it up to date. Vista does include a spyware remover, however, called Windows Defender.

• Other security settings: This category covers security settings for both Internet Explorer and Vista's User Account Control, otherwise known as "those nagging permission screens."

2. Click the Turn On Now or Restore Settings buttons to fix any potential security problems.

Whenever the Security Center notices that one of Vista's defenses is turned off, it alerts you by placing a red shield icon near your taskbar's clock.

Click any item with a red shield icon or that says Check Settings to reveal the Turn On Now or Restore Settings buttons.

By following the two preceding steps, your computer will be much safer than under any other version of Microsoft Windows.

The Security Center's four sections let you flip only an On switch. For more advanced fiddling, look for their names atop the Security Center's leftmost pane. A click on a name takes you to that area's settings menu, where you can change how it works, or even turn it off.