The Computer Security Tool V4
Running The Computer Security Tool for the first time
The Computer Security Toll has two modes of operation, Basic Mode and Advanced Mode. When run for the first time the program defaults to Advanced Mode (the current mode is displayed in a "Tab" at the top of the main program window). To change between modes, click "To Basic Mode" or "To Advanced Mode" in the "Options" menu on the left hand side of the main program screen. You can set the program to start in Basic or Advanced mode by clicking "Set Preferences" in the "Options" menu.
Running in Advanced Mode
Advanced Mode in the Computer Security Tool is designed for users who want the flexibility to configure individual security settings on a PC (Please note that there are some security issues which can only be actioned in Advanced Mode).
Advanced Mode - Running the Scan
Scan Results are listed in the center window:
A red cross indicates that
the issue is Not Secure;
A green tick indicates that
the issue is Secure;
Select whether Secure or Not Secure items are displayed using the drop down box under the "Advanced Options" menu in the left hand window. For example, "Insecure Only" will list only insecure items in the center window (as shown in the screen shot below):
It is possible to produce a Security Audit Report from this screen by clicking Report in the Options menu.
Security Issue Information
When an "Issue Name" is selected information about this issue is displayed in the right hand window. IMPORTANT: Read this information to understand the implications of changing a particular issue.
Select an Issue to be Changed
To select a Security Issue to be changed, click the drop down box and choose one of the following:
Secure: This will secure the Issue (this usually involves turning off an Windows function, or disabling a Windows Service);
Unsecure: If an Issue is currently secure, this option allows it to be turned back to an Unsecure state (this usually involves turning on a Windows function, or enabling a Windows Service);
Always Ignore: This option allows issues to be placed in the "Always Ignore List", meaning that they will not longer be detected in a scan and will not be included in the CST rating. Click here to learn more about the Always Ignore Issue List.
When an Action is selected from a drop down box a tick will be placed next to the issue to indicate that it is about to be modified. The "Select All" tick box will automatically place a tick next to every Issue.
Applying Security Changes
Once an issue/s has been selected (see above) press the "Apply Selected Changes" button in the bottom right hand corner of the screen. Prior changes being made a backup of your current security settings is taken. You will be shown the following message:
If you have selected changes that will effect Network or Internet access the following screen will display. IMPORTANT: Click on the Security Issue name to display information in the right hand window relating to the implications of the change.
After reading the information, if you no longer with to make a change, remove the tick from the box for that issue. If you wish to ignore the issue in future scans, add it to the "Ignore Issues List".
Click "Continue" and your changes will be employed. Changes should take less than 1 minutes to complete (depending on the number of Windows Services that are being Activated or Deactivated).
After a setting
has been changed the green tick or red cross will changed to the blue
icon to indicate that the Issue has been "Actioned".
Security History
The View History screen enables you to determine what changes have been made to the system. Click here to learn more about the Security History screen.
Return to the Advanced
Mode screen and you will see that the Security Issues that you
have just changed are now identified by the "Actioned" icon
. Scan the computer again to see the new results.