Windows has a large number of features that, if not configured correctly, can become a vulnerability. The classic approach is to check each feature one by one, but the market offers applications that reduce the whole process to a couple of clicks. One of the newest is SysHardener, which includes dozens of options aimed at strengthening the operating system and closing holes in some popular programs.
When it comes to security, Windows needs some help. Redmond does everything it can to automate and improve the profile of its defense tools, but that doesn’t eliminate the possibility that somewhere, a poorly configured feature leaves the operating system wide open.
As if that were not enough, the fault is not always Windows’. Some programs and formats are almost inherently insecure, but they become very difficult to replace. The number of variables to consider grows very large even for advanced users, which leads to an inevitable question: “Where do we begin?”
What SysHardener can do
One option is to leave the heavy lifting to applications like SysHardener. Through a simple interface, SysHardener lets you modify dozens of internal Windows parameters, from enabling User Account Control to removing associations for risky extensions (for example, .VBS), as well as firewall rules, stopping several services, restrictions on programs such as Adobe Reader or Office, and more.
SysHardener doesn’t show advanced details about the effect of each of these parameters, so in some cases it will be crucial to experiment a little with one option at a time (you don’t need to enable them all), and if something goes wrong, the “Reset Defaults” button should restore the factory configuration.
Final thoughts
In short, what SysHardener really needs is additional documentation in the future; otherwise, it will only be an attractive tool for advanced users. Disabling AutoPlay or the print spooler service needs no special explanation, but there are other functions that shouldn’t be taken so lightly. The official page offers a portable build with no dependencies, and it works from Windows Vista onward. To close: VirusTotal reports no threats in the file, so feel free to experiment.
