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• Security Self-Help Information
• Security Self-Help
Tool for Windows

Using the Security Self-Help Tool for Windows

The Security Self-Help Tool performs a set of basic security checks appropriate to Windows Vista and Windows XP (not servers). It can also repair many of the problems it finds.

Installing the Security Self-Help Tool

1. Download and run the Security Self-Help Tool installer.
   
   
2. At the Welcome window, click Next to continue.
   
   
   
   
3. Accept the terms of the license agreement and then click Next.
   
   
   
   
4. If you wish, check the box to create a Security Self-Help Tool shortcut on your desktop and/or in the notification area in the lower right corner of the screen. Then, click Next to continue.
   
   
   
   
5. Click Install to begin the installation.
   
   
   
   
6. When the installation has completed, click Finish.
   
   
   
   

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Running the tests

Note: This program must be run by a user with Administrator rights.

1. The program should start automatically after it is installed. If not, click Start and navigate to Programs > Stanford > Security Self-Help > Security Self-Help.
   
   
2. Click Run the Tests.
   
   
   
   
3. The test results are displayed in the Security Self-Help Tests window. All vulnerabilities that can be fixed by the tool are indicated by a checkmark. Click Fix All in the toolbar to fix these items.
   
   Note: Click the name of a test (not the checkbox) to display information about that test.
   
   
   
   
4. Click Close on the toolbar to return to the Security Self-Help Tool main window.
   
   
5. Click Secure Password Test to check for insecure user passwords on this computer.
   
   
6. When the Secure Password Test window is displayed, select the account(s) and the word list to compare each password to. Then, click Run the Password Test.
   
   Note: You only need to check the accounts on this computer; you do not need to check accounts in the Windows domain.
   
   
   
   
7. As soon as the test discovers a weak password, it displays a warning and continues on to the next account to be tested, if there is one. When the test has finished running, the results are displayed. Click Close to return to Security Self-Help main window.
   
   Note:See Password Security Tips for information about choosing and setting passwords.
   
   
   
   

For more information about the tests, see the Security Self-Help Tool Help page.