Keeping Users In Check

[xyber]

Hi All,

I'm trying to find out if there is a way we can prevent users from creating/storing/copying/pasting files onto the root directory. This is because i want to prevent anything from writing itself there other than the system itself. Because most of the autorun viruses etc copies itself there. There are numerous viruses out there which does this. And at this present time, although majority of the anti-viruses can track them, we might never know if another way to circumvent anti-viruses watch and defenses can be formulated. This is the basis i'm looking for this specific way to block users from storing files on root drives. And yes i am aware that natively UAC does watch over these places which means without elevated privs, nothing can be stored there. But what good is security if the home owners welcome thieves in disguises?

Thank you for all inputs on this.

-Xyber.

 

[James Colbert]

Hi xyber, and welcome.

You control user activity via limiting user accounts and permissions. Here are some links that should help you get started. Lots of reading:

Good link:

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd835546(WS.10).aspx

Good also:

Configuring Windows 7 for a Limited User Account

And a good, basic well written tutorial:

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/122666-permissions-allow-deny-users-groups.html

Some links specific to requirements you may have:

group policy - How can I prevent users from installing software? - Server Fault

Prevent users moving folders

And finally, some searches:

windows 7 prevent users from creating/storing/copying/pasting files onto the root directory - Google Search

windows 7 limiting user accounts - Google Search

http://www.google.com/search?q=wind...-us&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&startIndex=&startPage=1

And a final link, which is only applicable to The Professional and above versions of windows, but an excellent read about the use of GPedit:

http://www.thewindowsclub.com/tag/group-policy

James

 

[mborner]

The root drive is basically the PC, itself. Denying a user account the ability to create/store/copy/paste files would literally render the account useless. UAC is already set up to protect the computer and works great if set up properly. In other words, if the Administrator account is password protected and logged off, and a standard user account is being used by someone other than you, they would still need your password to run anything malicious, even non-threatening invitations.