Security and Maintenance

Security and Maintenance
A component of Microsoft Windows

Security and Maintenance in Windows 10: No issue has been detected
Details
Type Maintenance Application
Included with Windows Vista and later
Windows Server 2008 and later
Also available for Windows XP (part of Service Pack 2)
Service name Security Center (wscsvc)
Related components
Backup and Restore Center
User Account Control
Windows Defender
Windows Error Reporting
Windows Firewall
Windows Management Instrumentation
Windows Update
Windows Security Center in Windows Vista, reporting antivirus protection missing
Windows Security Center in Windows XP Service Pack 2 reporting no antivirus product is installed

Security and Maintenance (formerly Action Center and Windows Security Center) is a monitoring component of the Windows NT family of operating system. It monitors the security and maintenance status of the computer. Its monitoring criteria includes optimal operation of personal firewalls, anti-virus software and anti-spyware software, as well as the working status of Network Access Protection, Windows Update, User Account Control, Windows Error Reporting and Backup and Restore. It notifies the user of any problem with the monitored criteria, e.g. when an antivirus program is not up-to-date or is offline.

Overview

Security and Maintenance consists of three major components: A control panel applet, a Windows service and an application programming interface (API) provided by Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI).

The control panel applet divides the monitored criteria into categories and color-codes them. Yellow indicates a non-critical warning, e.g. some settings are not being monitored or are not optimal. Red indicates a critical message, e.g. anti-virus program is offline.

A service, named "Security Center",[1] determines the current state of the settings. The service, by default, starts when the computer starts; it continually monitors the system for changes, and notifies the user if it detects a problem. It adds a notification icon into the Windows Taskbar.

A WMI provider makes the settings available to the system. Third-party anti-virus, anti-spyware and personal firewall software vendors primarily register with Security and Maintenance through the WMI provider. Windows Vista added a new set of API that let programs retrieve the aggregate health status within Security and Maintenance, and to receive notifications when the health status changes. These APIs allow programs to confirm that the system is in a healthy state before engaging in certain actions. For example, a computer game can ensure that a firewall is running before connecting to an online game.

Tasks

Tasks run via Security and Maintenance may include:

Version history

Windows XP SP2

Microsoft learned from discussions with customers that there was confusion as to whether users were taking appropriate steps to protect their systems, or if the steps they were taking were effective.[3] From this research, Microsoft made the decision to include a visible control panel with Windows XP Service Pack 2 that would provide a consolidated view of the most important security features. Service Pack 2, released in August 2004, includes the first version of Windows Security Center (WSC). This version monitors Windows Update, Windows Firewall, and the availability of an anti-virus program. Third-party providers of personal firewall and anti-virus software packages were encouraged to use WSC API to register their products with WSC.

Windows Vista

WSC in Windows Vista monitors new criteria, such as anti-spyware software, User Account Control, and Internet Explorer security settings. It can also display logos of third-party products that have been registered with the Security Center.

Unlike Windows XP, in the beta versions of Windows Vista, WSC could not be disabled or overridden. Security software maker Symantec spoke out against this, noting that it would cause a great deal of consumer confusion because any security problems would be reported by both WSC and Symantec's tools at the same time.[4] McAfee, another large security software vendor, lodged similar complaints.[5] In the end, Microsoft allowed WSC to be disabled.[6]

Windows 7

In Windows 7, Windows Security Center has been renamed Action Center. (It was called Windows Solution Center and Windows Health Center in earlier builds.) It was designed to centralize and reduce the number of notifications about the system; as such, it encompasses both security and maintenance of the computer.[7] Its notification icon on Windows Taskbar only appears when there is a message for perusal and replaces five separate notification icons found in Windows Vista.[8]

Windows 8

In Windows 8, Action Center monitors 10 new items: Microsoft account, Windows activation, SmartScreen, automatic maintenance, drive status, device software, startup apps, HomeGroup, File History, and Storage Spaces.[9]

Windows 10

In Windows 10 the Action Center has been renamed to Security and Maintenance. Despite the change of name, the functionality has not changed from the functionality of the Action Center in Windows 8.[10]

PC Magazine criticism

On 25 August 2004, PC Magazine published an article in their Security Watch newsletter titled "Windows XP SP2 Security Center Spoofing Threat" which outlined a design vulnerability which could allow malware to manipulate Security Center into displaying a false security status regardless of the true security status. To do so, the malware requires administrative privileges.[11]

See also

References

  1. ↑ The service identifier is "wscsvc".
  2. ↑ Stanek, William (2014). Windows Server 2012 R2 Inside Out Volume 1: Configuration, Storage, & Essentials. Inside Out. 1. Microsoft Press. ISBN 9780735685611. Retrieved 2014-10-27. In Task Scheduler, the following tasks are triggered by automated maintenance: [...] Microsoft\Windows\Power Efficiency Diagnostics. Analyzes power usage
  3. ↑ "Microsoft Windows Security Center: The Voice of Security for Windows Vista". Microsoft. 6 October 2006. Retrieved 16 November 2009.
  4. ↑ Jeremy Reimer (2006-09-27). "Symantec says Vista will "reduce consumer choice"". Ars Technica. Retrieved 2006-10-14.
  5. ↑ Hines, Matt (2006-10-03). "McAfee Chides Microsoft Over Vista Security Policies". eWeek.
  6. ↑ Seltzer, Larry (2006-10-16). "Microsoft Caves on Vista Security". eWeek. Retrieved 2008-08-13.
  7. ↑ Gilmour, Sean (11 November 2008). Sinofsky, Steven, ed. "Action Center". Engineering Windows 7. Microsoft. Retrieved 29 October 2014.
  8. ↑ Rubenking, Neil J. (20 November 2008). "Security in Windows 7: Getting Started". PC Magazine. Ziff Davis.
  9. ↑ Shultz, Greg (2 August 2012). "Keep tabs on performance in Windows 8 with Action Center". TechRepublic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved 29 October 2014.
  10. ↑ Hassan, Mehedi (29 December 2014). "Action Center is now Security and Maintenance on Windows 10". Microsoft News. Microsoft News. Retrieved 12 July 2015.
  11. ↑ Jay Munro (25 August 2004). "Windows XP SP2 Security Center Spoofing Threat". Security Watch. PC Magazine. Retrieved 16 November 2009.
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