Harden NT
Platforms:
Windows 2000,
Windows 95/98,
Windows NT
Categories:
Hardening,
NT,
System Security Management,
Windows NT
Version:
URL:
HardenNT is a tool created to automate the task of securing one or more Microsoft Windows based computers. It is specifically aimed at securing Windows NT 4.0 machines, although some of the functionality could also be used on Windows 9x or even Windows 2000 networks.
HardenNT is aimed at:
Security minded system administrators who are willing to put some time and effort into securing their Windows systems;
Security consultants who find themselves having to secure Windows NT computers regularly, and who are looking at a way to automate this as much as possible without losing the flexibility of easy customization.
HardenNT's strength lies in its ability to provide security baselines for various systems. It can be used to perform the following tasks:
Install one or more security patches on a Windows computer depending on its operating system, CPU architecture and service pack level; Restrict a user group's default NT privileges;
Turn on NT auditing for security events a user considers important;
Set NTFS ACL permissions, delete and/or move security critical files;
Secure a computer's registry.
HardenNT is not a tool that is to be installed or even run on a computer that one wants to secure. It merely creates a number of batch files that run standard NT (and NT resource kit) tools. This means that the batch files created by HardenNT are to be copied and run on the host you want to secure. The batch files rely on Microsoft Windows NT resource kit utilities (xcalcs.exe, auditpol.exe, ntrights.exe, regini.exe and shutdown.exe) and Microsoft security hotfixes. These executables will have to be purchased or downloaded from Microsoft and copied to the host you are trying to secure.
