Hardening Windows 11

Question

Due to hardware retirement, I am reluctantly setting up a windows 11 system for use in my network environment. In searching the web I've found some views on how to harden windows 11 but not nearly as much as I had hoped for. By hardening I refer to seriously regulating input and output, including Edge(AI), Microsoft info collection ad targeting, and putting internet use back to its role as a tool, not a partner, in our network topology.

While I understand how things have been steered (backwards oddly enough), there still must be a way to at least partially accomplish what should be and used to be the foundation of any network client (stingy network output/input).

Answer 1

Hello there,

To harden your Windows 11 system and enhance its security, consider implementing the following best practices:

Keep Windows up to date: Regularly install Windows updates to ensure that your system has the latest security patches and bug fixes. Enable automatic updates or regularly check for updates manually.

Use strong and unique passwords: Set strong, complex passwords for user accounts, including the Administrator account. Consider using a password manager to generate and store unique passwords for each account.

Enable BitLocker drive encryption: BitLocker provides full-disk encryption to protect your data in case of theft or unauthorized access. Enable BitLocker on all drives, especially the system drive, to ensure data security.

Enable Windows Defender Antivirus: Windows 11 comes with built-in antivirus protection called Windows Defender. Ensure that Windows Defender is enabled and up to date to protect against malware and other threats.

Enable Windows Firewall: Activate the Windows Firewall to control inbound and outbound network traffic. Configure the firewall to allow only necessary network connections and block unauthorized access.

Enable User Account Control (UAC): UAC prompts for permission when performing administrative tasks. Keep UAC enabled to prevent unauthorized changes to your system.

Disable unnecessary services and features: Review and disable any unnecessary services and features to reduce the attack surface of your system. Only keep essential services running.

Use a standard user account: Avoid using an administrator account for regular activities. Use a standard user account for day-to-day tasks, reserving the administrator account for administrative actions.

I used AI provided by ChatGPT to formulate part of this response. I have verified that the information is accurate before sharing it with you.

Hope this resolves your Query !!

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