Networking / Beginners

Clear Virtual Memory Page File

Many administrators want to have the system clear the page file on shutdown to avoid attackers sniffing through it for interesting data in case the system is stolen. Although we have no problem in principle with this, you really have to ask yourself how likely it is that they will actually (a) steal the system, (b) find something interesting, and (c)actually be able to tell that it is interesting. OK, if you are up against a foreign intelligence service, the answers to these questions may dictate that you should clear the page file. If they do, you still need to consider shutdown times, however. It could take up to an additional 40 minutes to clear the page file at shutdown. Do you really want your laptop to take an additional 40 minutes to shut down after the flight attendants announce that "we have now reached an altitude where portable electronics devices may no longer be used?"

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In this tutorial:

  1. Protecting Hosts
  2. Security Configuration Myths
  3. Myth 1: Security Guides Make Your System Secure
  4. Myth 2: If We Hide It, they Not Find It
  5. Myth 3: The More Tweaks, the Better
  6. Myth 4: Tweaks Are Necessary
  7. Myth 5: All Environments Should At Least Use <Insert Favorite Guide Here>
  8. Myth 6: "High Security" Is an End Goal for All Environments
  9. Myth 7: Start Securing Your Environment by Applying a Security Guide
  10. Myth 8: Security Tweaks Can Fix Physical Security Problems
  11. Myth 9: Security Tweaks Will Stop Worms/Viruses
  12. Myth 10: An Expert Recommended This Tweak as Defense in Depth
  13. Server Security Tweaks
  14. Software Restriction Policies
  15. Do Not Store LAN Manager Hash Value
  16. Anonymous Restrictions
  17. Security Identifiers (SIDs)
  18. Password Policies
  19. SMB Message Signing
  20. Networking LAN Manager Authentication Level
  21. TCP Hardening
  22. Restricted Groups
  23. Audit Settings
  24. Client Security Tweaks
  25. Firewalls
  26. IPsec Filters
  27. SafeDllSearchMode
  28. Local Administrator Account Control
  29. Limit Local Account Use of Blank Passwords to Console Logon Only
  30. Logon Events
  31. Allowed to Format and Eject Removable Media
  32. The Caution ListChanges You Should Not Make
  33. Crash on Audit Failure
  34. Clear Virtual Memory Page File
  35. Security Configuration Tools