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Action Center Security
The Security section of the Action Center, shown in Figure 2, includes information about all sorts of security-related items.
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Figure 2 Security-related items in the Action Center
Here's what you'll find in this section:
- Network firewall. Displays whether the Windows Firewall is turned on or off.
- Windows update. Displays whether or not Windows is configured to automatically download and install updates as they become available.
- Virus protection. Displays whether you have a compatible anti-virus program installed on your system—and whether it's turned on and its virus definitions are up-to-date.
- Spyware and unwanted software protection. Displays whether you have a compatible anti-spyware program installed on your system—and whether it's turned on and its spyware definitions are up-to-date.
- Internet security settings. Displays whether all Internet security settings are set to their recommended levels.
- User Account Control. Displays whether UAC is turned on or off. Also displays a link to change UAC settings.
- Network Access Protection. Displays whether the NAP Agent service is running. (NAP is a platform network administrators can use to protect the security of a large network.)
If anti-virus or anti-spyware capabilities are not activated or updated on your system, an alert to that effect is displayed in the Security section. You can then click the button within the alert to restore these functions to normal operation.
If you're running Microsoft's new Microsoft Security Essentials software, Action Center's Security section also includes a number of MSE-related items. I happen to like MSE, a small-footprint, free anti-malware application that integrates well with Windows 7—and directly into the Action Center.