For IT pros and power users the Windows Control Panel is often a starting point for troubleshooting or tweaking their systems. But for the novice user, it can be a Pandora's box. On this week's episode of TR Dojo, I show you how to lock down the Control Panel by removing individual icons or picking the ones that are displayed.
But is removing Windows Control Panel icons really worth all the effort? Does it ultimately depend on a machine's environment--lab, kiosk, office? What do you think? Is removing icons from the Windows Control Panel a good security measure or overkill? Take the poll in the post above and let me know.
Original post and poll:
http://blogs.techrepublic.com.com/itdojo/?p=2140
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Just removing the icons doesn't stop people accessing them from Explorer from the Run.. dialog.
You need to be a bit more "forceful" to really stop them. Removing the relevant .cpl files from system32 is a start.
You need to be a bit more "forceful" to really stop them. Removing the relevant .cpl files from system32 is a start.
It should be as simple as dragging and dropping the icon to another (secure) folder.
Control panel extensions are already in a secure folder - /System32.
The control panel isn't a real folder/directory. The icons aren't regular shortcuts. It just doesn't work that way.
The control panel isn't a real folder/directory. The icons aren't regular shortcuts. It just doesn't work that way.
Just curious. Would he think that this is funny, or would he be TOTALLY embarrassed?
This reminds me of the Rush Hour outtakes at the end when Chris Tucker's phone rings during filming and is given to Jackie Chan and Jackie explains to the caller "We are filming"...
This reminds me of the Rush Hour outtakes at the end when Chris Tucker's phone rings during filming and is given to Jackie Chan and Jackie explains to the caller "We are filming"...
There are really very few icons to remove if the user is a standard user. A good chunk of them require elevated privledges to change something.
Instructive article as usual. What should not be missing from such enlightenments for the PC owners is, that there has to be:
1 Indication of benefit aspect, ie non-jugglery
value or "Why" of the tweak.
2 Saving clause, ie undoing the tweak or reinstating
the (Control Panel) status.
1 Indication of benefit aspect, ie non-jugglery
value or "Why" of the tweak.
2 Saving clause, ie undoing the tweak or reinstating
the (Control Panel) status.
as indicated.
If you don't know why you'd want to do this, don't do it.
edit: And you won't have Group Policy on a Windows system Home edition or lower, anyway.
I think it should be rather obvious as to how to undo the action.
If you don't know why you'd want to do this, don't do it.
edit: And you won't have Group Policy on a Windows system Home edition or lower, anyway.
I think it should be rather obvious as to how to undo the action.
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