2 Ways to Protect Windows Registry From Remote Access

The Windows Registry is a indispensable part of the Windows operating system, be it any version of Windows that you are using. The registry settings essentially states and governs every aspect of the system’s proceedings. This capital importance clearly classifies the registry as a “must be protected” region for users all around the globe, especially for those, whose day to day activities comprises a great deal of internet usage.
[Note : See how to Create a Backup and Restore your Registry.]

How may Remote Access be Harmful to the Windows Registry?

Nowadays, quite a number of websites accentuate a certain remote accessibility feature. When you are visiting one of them, this features enable the website to access your system without requiring your permission or without notifying you. Some of these may even visit the Windows Registry and in the worst case scenario, either edit it or install some features that may prove quite harmful to your system. This may result in disrupting your system proceedings landing you in a fix.
We, here at Tech-Tips-Geek, provide you with two extremely effective ways to protect your Windows Registry from remote accesses so as to maintain overall system stability. And what more…! These processes do not require any software and are completely reversible, just in case you choose to allow remote access to your system.

Protecting Your Windows Registry :

Method-1 : Using Registry Editor

Follow the steps below to protect your Windows Registry using the Windows Registry Editor :
1. Click on “Start” and choose “Run” or simply press “Windows Key+R” to open the Run-box.
2. The Run-box opens up. Type in regedit and press ENTER. Confirm any messages appearing to continue with your task.
3. The Registry Editor opens up. Navigate to the location HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetControlSecurePipeServerswinreg. Right-click on the folder “winreg” in the left-hand side of the Registry Editor box and select “Permissions”.
4. The “Permissions for winreg” box appears. Under the list “Group or user names” select each one of the listed groups or users and for each selected uncheck the boxes next to “Full Control”, “Read” and “Special Permissions” respectively under the “Permissions” list. Click to “Apply” and then “OK” to complete setting up the Windows Registry.

[Note : Keeping the Windows Registry in the “read only” mode isn’t going to harm your system to the least possible extent. If you do want the registry to be kept in this mode, perform the unchecking process on the boxes next to “Full Control” and “Special Permissions” keeping the box next to “Read” checked. Your registry is now set to be in “read only” mode.]
5. Exit the Registry Editor and restart your system in order that the chosen settings take effect.
On resuming, your Windows Registry is fully protected from any kind of remote accessibility.

Method-2 : Using Windows “Services”

1. As in the previous method, open up the Windows Run-box by pressing “Windows Key+R”.
2. Type in services.msc in the Run-box and hit ENTER.

3. The Windows Services box opens up. In the right-hand side of the Services box, scroll to locate the option “Remote Registry”. Double click on this option to open its properties. You can also right-click on this option and select “Properties”.
4. The “Remote Registry Properties (Local Computer)” box appears. Under the “General” tab, set the option “Startup type” to disabled by checking the option from the drop-down list. Click to “Apply” and then on “OK”.

5. Exit the Windows Services and reboot your system.
When Windows resumes after the reboot, your Windows Registry is completely protected from remote accesses from external as well as internal sources.
Any one of the above two methods may be used to achieve total protection of your Windows Registry.