Easily Disable Unwanted Windows Services - For Added Privacy in XP & Vista!

[Warlockz]

Here are some applications that are used to disable unwanted windows services that can pose a threat to privacy!
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XP-AntiSpy 2000/XP/Vista

XP-AntiSpy is a little utility that lets you disable some built-in update and authentication 'features' in WindowsXP.



http://www.xp-antispy.org/index.php/lang-en/ueber
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xpy For Windows XP

Small tool which disables the default threats of a Windows XP installation. Besides disabling Windows and some of its components to communicate with Microsoft servers, xpy improves privacy settings and your system’s security.



http://xpy.whyeye.org/about/
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Vispa For Windows Vista

Vispa allows you to easily tweak your Windows Vista for better privacy and security, even system performance. Do a few clicks rather than finding the write registry keys or program settings.



http://vispa.whyeye.org/

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Security & Privacy Complete for XP

Please see website for more info and screenshot!

Screenshot
http://cmia.backtrace.org/en_screenshot.html

HomePage
http://cmia.backtrace.org/index_en.html
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I hope you find these Applications usefull in one way or another, please remember to create a backup, or restore point before tweaking any windows services if your unsure of what you are doing, others have system restore disabled on their machine, as it will make a backup copy of files that may compromise privacy, I advise to create Backup Image files as an alternative to system restore, this can be done using Acronis, Paragon, or anyother Backup solution you like!

Note: it is easier to make multiple partitions, and store your music, pictures and other important data files on a partition other than your OS, this way if your OS goes bad, you don't have to take hours of your time recovering the files on the partition where your OS went wacko, they will remain on the active extra partitions, and you can install or restore your OS partition without having to change or worry about the partitions your Data is stored on, also, it is advised to backup all of your important data on a separate drive such as a 320-500GIG Seagate Free Agent GO External HD, this way if your HD crashes, you will still have a backup of your Data, and not have to pay up to $1000 to have a recovery lab recover the files from your crashed drive!

[LockBox]

Warlockz, After a fresh install, which I have fewer of since imaging programs came along, XP Antispy has been a staple for me. It's the first thing I use (after making an image of the factory state). Great program.

I'll mention another that goes a bit further with a few more bells and whistles, but I'm not sure it's been kept as up-to-date as XP Antispy and that's Safe XP. It might be worth giving a spin as well.
http://www.theorica.net/safexp.htm

I also use Tweak-XP Pro from Total Idea for tweaks that go beyond security tweaks (and they do have those as well).

These programs basically allow you to make check marks here or there and automatically do what we used to do (when XP first came out) manually by using Black Viper's suggestions of on/off services, registry hacks, etc. They certainly made things easier. I've never tried the xpy program, I'll have to check it out.

Of course, we'll also soon have a whole new slew of these programs to "tweak" Windows 7. Total Idea has the first and if it's anything like their other products they are excellent in every way. Very professional.
http://www.totalidea.com/tweak7-preview.php

Good post, Warlockz...I think more people need to remember these type of programs first thing out of the box and they could prevent many problems and hang on to a little bit of what privacy is left as well.

[Fly]

At first I wondered if ´Xp/antispy´ was rogue software.

I just sounded ´rogue´.

But it seems to be clean. Of course, you should make sure you download the genuine article.

However, juding by the screenshot, it doesn´t do many things you can´t do without this program. Like configuring the Windows Media Player.

To each his own.

Btw, disabling DCOm may not be wise, regardless of what Microsoft claims.
I did that once and it caused problems.

[Warlockz]

Originally Posted by Gerard Morentzy

I also use Tweak-XP Pro from Total Idea for tweaks that go beyond security tweaks (and they do have those as well).

I forgot about Tweak-XP Pro, I think it was when they were in their beta stage when I first tried it, I'll probably dump TuneUp Utilities 2009 and switch to Tweak-XP Pro, It seams TuneUp has become obsolete since I switched to XP Repair pro for my Cleaning needs, and their so called tweaks to optimize don't seem to do anything for me either.

And thanks for letting us know about Safe XP..

[arran]

Yea as in my Sig I use those hardening tools.

But for disabling services. Malware Denfender is the best.

[the Tester]

I haven't seen xp for Windows XP before.
Nice list

And I can attest to the fact that XPantispy is and always has been clean.

[markoman]

Thanks a lot,
I will give all these tools a look!

[caspian]

Do you have to know how to configure these programs? Or do they have default settings that make you more secure?

Thank you Warlockz. One of the things I hate the most after a new install is the hassle of trimming down my process and services by following the BlackViper website.
http://www.blackviper.com/WinXP/servicecfg.htm
Great site,great info,but you have to be wide awake if you choose to go beyond the "safe" settings.
I know I am showing my ignorance but i really had no idea a program could do this for you.

thanks ,ypest