Windows NT 4.0-A Window to the Business Community?
Kristin Fuller
Robin Seaton
English 12Z/002
February 21, 2000
Pledge: Kristin Fuller
Introduction
History
What does NT stand for?
Components
Problems
Conclusion
Works Cited
People Consulted
The
creation of Windows software is fairly new. In the late 1980’s, the
DOS operating system was the basis of Windows NT (www.ntfaq.com
1999). While Microsoft and IBM worked to create a DOS replacement, Microsoft
worked independently to create a more powerful operating system that would
run on either processor platform (www.ntfaq.com
1999). The idea that Microsoft tried to incorporate into the new
program was that the new OS (operating system) would be written in a high
level language so it would be more portable. According to Windows
Information, “In the early 1990’s Microsoft released version 3.0 of its
windows OS which gained a large user base, and it was at this point that
Microsoft and IBM’s split started as the two companies disagreed on the
future of their OS’s” (www.ntfaq.com
1999). When the companies split, IBM kept OS/2 and Microsoft changed
OS/2 NT to Windows NT (www.ntfaq.com
1999). In 1993 Microsoft released the first version of Windows NT;
it worked along the same lines as the normal Windows Operating System (www.ntfaq.com
1999). Windows NT is somewhat new to the business industry, proving
to be helpful and user-friendly.
What
does the NT in Windows NT stand for? Actually, the NT stands for
“Northern Telecom but Microsoft licensed it and in the Windows sense stands
for New Technology” (www.ntfaq.com
1999). In technical terms, “Windows is a multitask operating
system that works on a 32-bit operating system, meaning that the operating
system controls allocation of CPU time, not the applications, stopping
one application from hanging the OS” (www.ntfaq.com
1999). Also, Windows is a “fault tolerant operating system, with
each 32-bit application operating in its own virtual memory address space
which means one application cannot interfere with another’s memory space”
(www.ntfaq.com 1999).
Windows has a
number of components that help make the program stronger and easier to
use for businesses. Windows has a similar interface as Windows 95/98
(www.microsoft.com 1999).
Windows NT Workstation 4.0 combines features such as the start button,
taskbar, shortcuts, my computer, network neighborhood, and the recycle
bin of Windows 95/98 along with the security and reliability of Windows
NT (www.microsoft.com 1999).
Windows NT Explorer is another one of NT’s features. Windows NT Explorer
is a “powerful, flexible, efficient, and extensible tool for browsing and
managing files, drives, and network connections” (www.microsoft.com
1999). Also, the simple installation process is yet another feature
that makes Windows NT attractive. According to Microsoft, “the installation
process simplifies the setup procedure when upgrading to Windows NT Workstation”
(www.microsoft.com 1999).
Windows NT offers a number of accessories that add to ease of the programs’
use. Such accessories that are included in the program are Hyper-terminal,
Word Pad, Paint, and Quick Viewers. Many of these tools appeared
first in Windows 95 (www.microsoft.com
1999). Microsoft Internet Explorer is an application that makes exploring
the Internet easy, just another feature of Windows NT. An option
that Windows NT includes is the system policies and user profiles.
System administrators use “System policies and user profiles to easily
manage and maintain their users’ desktops in a consistent manner” (www.microsoft.com
1999). Profiles can be stored on a Windows NT Server, so users always
receive the same desktop when logging on to any Windows NT-based computer
on the network (www.microsoft.com
1999). The improved Windows NT diagnostics Program helps simplify
troubleshooting. The Windows Workstation contains information such
as build number, device driver information, network usage data, and information
about system resources like IRQ, DMA, and I/O addresses, it is viewed in
an easy-to-use graphical tool that you can run remotely on Windows NT (www.microsoft.com
1999). Another feature of Windows NT is the improved driver support.
Windows NT Workstation 4.0 includes numerous new video drivers that improve
screen quality and are especially helpful when using multimedia features
such as WD Think Pad, Matrox Millennium, Trident, and Number 9 imagine,
C & T, and Cirrus. In addition to all the aforementioned features
Windows NT offers many other applications and user-friendly options.
The Task Manager offered
by Windows NT 4.0 is an additional facet included in the program. The Task
Manager is an application that provides a simple way to terminate processes
that are not responding, making the overall system more reliable (www.microsoft.com
1999). The Task Manager is “an integrated tool for managing applications
and tasks, and providing key performance metrics of the Windows NT-based
system”(www.microsoft.com 1999).
Even with all the
great qualities of Windows NT, viruses and problems do occur and some are
very difficult and tedious to deal with.One virus that was found in Windows
NT 4.0, “Kapersky Lab announced the discovery of the first computer virus
that integrates itself into the highest security level of Windows NT operating
system, this is the first virus that attacks the NT system driver” (www.ntsecurity.net
1999). The virus called, “WinNT.Infis makes its self very difficult
to detect and remove the virus from computer memory” (www.ntsecurity.net
1999). Another problem that has become a common occurrence in the
Windows NT system involves a portal of SMTP port 25, a popular crack in
the system for “hackers” to retrieve data, including businesses’ confidential
information (Cochran 2000). If businesses use “Outlook Web Access
(OWA) with Exchange Server 5.5, several potential threats exists, such
as the Active Server Pages (ASP) download problem” (Cochran 2000).
An intruder can easily download the contents of ASP using “::$DATA string.”
(Cochran 2000). Such practices can possibly expose login names and
passwords. Another problem presented by Cochran concerns the Exchange
Server not being able to service any legitimate requests if an intruder
overflows certain TCP or UDP ports (e.g., SMPT port 25) (2000). Firewalls
or other sources of protection protect most exchange servers (Cochran 2000).
As problems occur with Windows NT, the company works vigorously to correct
each instance and try to make the latest version free of that particular
problem.
System problems can
be helped or fixed a number of ways. Some suggestions that the official
web site of Windows NT had were simple and appeared to be useful.
One option was to make sure that all the NT’s password control features
had been implemented (www.netsecurity.net
1999). This includes requiring user to have strong passwords, forcing
user to change their passwords at regular intervals, and hiding the last
username to login. NT can lock out accounts after so many bad passwords
attempts (www.ntsecurity.net 1999).
Companies need to be sure to enable this setting, as it greatly impairs
and intruder’s ability to “brute force” guess your passwords (www.ntsecurity.net
1999). Moreover, instruct users not to write the passwords down anywhere
unless they can be safely locked up afterwards (www.ntsecurity.net
1999).
Other security controls
may be enforced as well as password controls. Another option that may help
insure the security of Windows NT could be to minimize the number of users
that belong to the Administrator’s group (www.ntsecurity.net
1999). Do not ever add someone to this group for the sake of convenience,
and check its membership routinely. A third possibility consists
of periodically checking your systems for unwanted user accounts (www.ntsecurity.net
1999). Delete or disable unused accounts. When establishing
temporary accounts, be sure to set an expiration date for the account,
and assign rights and permissions carefully (www.ntsecurity.net
1999). Furthermore, companies may consider displaying a legal notice on
their systems that warn each potential user that access to the system is
restricted, authorized users only and sessions may be monitored (www.ntsecurity.net
1999). According to Windows Security News, “make sure users do not
leave their workstations turned on and unattended, this is a good way of
helping prevent unwanted modem dialups and rogue Web and FTP sits as well”
(www.ntsecurity.net 1999).
A final opportunity that companies may consider is the monitoring of networks
closely. A large percentage of break-ins occur on networks that were
already secure to some extent, but simply were not monitored closely enough
(www.ntsecurity.net 1999).
A company can take several measures to help insure the safety of their
network.
Windows NT 4.0
has an extensive amount of features and opportunities that an individual
or business should take advantage. Windows NT workstation 4.0 is currently
the latest version of the network program; however, February 17, 2000 the
Windows NT 2000 version was released. From the multiple applications
offered through the program to the problems and loopholes in the system,
Windows NT proves to be an accommodating program, providing many with the
user-friendly compatibility. Microsoft continues to better the system
and provide up-grades to improve the quality and make a more easy-to-use
workstation. The Windows Security continues to advance due to the
progressive developments and newly released software.
Works Cited
Microsoft Windows NT Workstation.
1999. January 14, 2000. Available:
Minimizing Network
Intrusion 2000. Windows Security News. January 30, 2000.
What is Windows
NT? 2000. Ask Jeeves. January 14, 2000. Available:
What is the
History of NT?2000. Ask Jeeves. January 14, 2000. Available:
What does
NT stand for? 2000. Ask Jeeves. January 14, 2000.
Available:
http://www.ntfaq.com/ntfaq/core2.html
WinNT.Infis
Virus Discovered. 1999. Windows Security News. January
14, 2000.Available:
People Consulted
Brian Northcutt