Increase the privacy and security of your PC by creating user accounts.

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In Windows XP everyone who uses the computer must have a user account. When you first install XP it automatically creates an Administrator account. If you haven't created any additonal user accounts, you're probably running the machine using that original Administrator account. Don't. It's not safe for you or for the Internet.

The Administrator, like the root account in Unix, is all powerful. Admins can examine and delete any file on the hard drive. Only they can install and remove software. And the computer's administrator has access to other features of XP, like raw sockets, which can be dangerous in the wrong hands.

Most users like the power and convenience of running as Administrator. After all, that's what we're used to. In Windows 95, 98, and Me, every user had full Administrator powers. It's not a good idea to always run as Administrator. If you become infected with a virus or trojan horse, that malicious program inherits your power, and can do things to your system that you won't like. Even more importantly, a trojan horse running on your system as Administrator can launch attacks against other computers on the Internet without your knowledge.

For your own safety, and the safety of the Internet, you should not routinely log into your computer as Administrator. Create a limited user account for day-to-day operations. Log in as Administrator only when it's necessary for system maintenance.

Even if you're the only person using your computer it's important to create a limited user account for day-to-day operations. If many people use the same computer, user accounts offer security and privacy for each user. For those of us who are used to the all-powerful control of Windows 95, 98, and Me, using a limited account takes a little getting used to, but it's the safest way to operate a computer. As any Unix user will tell you, you should never run as root unless absolutely necessary.

Leo Laporte's new book, "Leo Laporte's 2003 Technology Almanac" is available at Amazon.com

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