Turn Off Unnecessary Windows XP Services
Such As “Help And Support” and “Messenger”
NOTE: “To disable installed Programs from starting-up. Please see bottom of page for more information”
Turning off unnecessary services in Windows XP can greatly reduce your exploit risk, while improving system performance. It's a good time to inject that often there are all sorts of "download optimizers" and other cute programs that vendors like to push on users. Most of the time, installing such things slows your computer down at best. It could subject you to potential security risks. The first rule is "If you don't know you need it, you probably don't."
Unnecessary services don't just subject you to security risk. They also slow down the operation of your computer. Go ahead and turn that junk off and recapture your system from these resource hogs.
Type “sevices.msc” in the run box instead.
OR
You get to services by going to Control Panel, Administrative Tools, then Services.
2.
4.
5.
And below this list are the full listed recommendations by BlackViper.
and can cripple XP if the wrong ones are disabled
Be Careful
You do so at your own risk.
Disable IIS - Luckily, IIS in not installed by default in Windows XP. If you enabled it during your installation, and aren't using it you should disable it. If you are using IIS on your workstation, you need to take extra precautions to lock it down and stay on top of security vulnerabilities specific to web services.
Netmeeting Remote Desktop Sharing
Remote Desktop Help Session Manager - If you haven't disabled this via Group Policy already
Remote Registry
Routing & Remote Access - if your not dialing into your machine.
SSDP Discovery Service - this disables the Universal PNP Service, which leaves TCP Port 5000 wide open.
Universal Plug and Play Device Host - This is designed to allow your computer to automatically connect to network-enabled appliances. Although there are no practical uses for this technology yet, several severe security flaws have already been discovered. Use the UnPlug and Play utility from Gibson Research to disable "Universal Plug and Play". Gibson's web site has additional information about why this is necessary
The following is a list of Services that you can Disable on most systems for increased performance:
Alerter
Distributed Link Tracking Client
Help and Support - (If you use Windows Help and Support leave this enabled)
Indexing Service
IPSEC Services
Messenger - (Shoot the Messenger and installing SP2 will disable this)
Portable Media Serial Number
Remote Registry Service
Secondary Logon
SSDP Discovery Service - (Unplug n' Pray will disable this)
Telnet
Upload Manager
Wireless Zero Configuration - (If you are on a wireless network leave this enabled)
The following is a list of Services that should always be set to Automatic:
Automatic Updates - (Required by Windows Updates)
Background Intelligent Transfer Service - (Required by Windows Updates)
COM+ Event System - (Required by BootVis and other Applications)
Cryptographic Services - (Required to confirm the signature of Windows system files, Protected Root Services and Key Services)
DCOM Server Process Launcher - (Required by Disk Defragmenter)
DHCP Client - (Required for Cable/DSL connections and Routers)
DNS Client - (Improves Internet Performance)
Event Log - (Required by Windows and cannot be Stopped)
Logical Disk Manager - (Required to manage and update your Harddrives)
Network Connections - (Required by Network Connections)
Plug and Play - (Required by your System Hardware, Never Disable This!)
Print Spooler - (Required by Printers)
Protected Storage - (Required to protected sensitive data and to prevent access by unauthorized services, processes, or users.)
Remote Procedure Call (RPC) - (Required by Windows, Never Disable This!)
Security Accounts Manager - (Required to store security information for local user accounts)
Security Center - (Notifies you of you Firewall and AntiVirus Status)
Shell Hardware Detection - (Required by the AutoPlay feature)
System Event Notification - (Required by various Applications)
System Restore Service - (Required by the System Restore feature)
Task Scheduler - (Required by the Windows Prefetcher, BootVis and Norton AV, Never Disable This!)
Themes - (Required by the new look of Windows XP)
Windows Audio - (Required for Sound)
Windows Management Instrumentation - (Required by Windows, Never Disable This!)
An * (asterisk) indicates changes from Service Pack 1a to Service Pack 2
· Manual~ Manual mode allows Windows to start a service when needed. However, very few services will start up when required in Manual mode. If you find you need a service, place it in Automatic.
· Disabled~ This setting will stop a service from starting, even if needed. Errors in the Event Viewer will show up complaining of that fact. Some services, while Disabled, will constantly complain. However, this situation is taken care of if placed in Manual. The service descriptions, identifies those that should be in Manual verses Disabled.
Alerter - notifies selected users and computers of administrative alerts. If this service is turned off, applications that use the NetAlertRaise or NetAlertRaiseEx APIs will be unable to notify a user or computer (by a Message Box from the Messenger service) that the administrative alert took place.
”SAFE”~ Disabled “POWER USERS”~ Disabled “BARE BONES”~ Disabled
Application Layer Gateway Service - Provides support for 3rd party plug-ins for Internet Connection Sharing/Internet Connection Firewall. Required if using Internet Connection Sharing/Internet Connection Firewall to connect to the internet.
”SAFE”~ Manual “POWER USERS”~ Disabled “BARE BONES”~ Disabled
Application Management - Used for Assign, Publish and Remove software services. If you can not modify your software installation of certain applications, put this service in to Automatic or Manual.
”SAFE”~ Manual “POWER USERS”~ Manual “BARE BONES”~ Manual
Automatic Updates - Used to check up to see if there are any critical or otherwise updates available for download. It is very important that if you decide to disable this service, you check the Windows Update site often to ensure the latest patches are installed. Manual (and Automatic) update via Windows Update web site Requires Cryptographic Services to be running.
”SAFE”~ Automatic “POWER USERS”~ Disabled “BARE BONES”~ Disabled
Background Intelligent Transfer Service - Used to transfer asynchronous data via http1.1 servers. According to Microsoft's site, Windows Update uses this "feature." It "continues" a download if you log off or shutdown the system (that is, when you log back in.) Manual update via Windows Update web site Requires Cryptographic Services to be running.
”SAFE”~ Manual “POWER USERS”~ Disabled “BARE BONES”~ Disabled
ClipBook - enables the Clipbook Viewer to create and share "pages" of data to be viewed by remote computers.
”SAFE”~ Disabled “POWER USERS”~ Disabled “BARE BONES”~ Disabled
COM+ Event System - provides automatic distribution of events to subscribing (Component Object Model) COM components.
”SAFE”~ Manual “POWER USERS”~ Disabled “BARE BONES”~ Disabled
COM+ System Application - as above
”SAFE”~ Manual “POWER USERS”~ Disabled “BARE BONES”~ Disabled
Computer Browser - maintains an up-to-date list of computers on your network, and supplies the list to programs that request it. The Computer Browser service is used by Windows-based computers that need to view network domains and resources. Not required unless you attach to a network of Windows computers.
”SAFE”~ Disabled “POWER USERS”~ Disabled “BARE BONES”~ Disabled
Cryptographic Services - Confirms signatures of Windows files. You may always get a dialog box complaining about uncertified drivers if this is disabled. Required for Windows Update to function in manual and automatic mode. Windows Media Player may also require this service to function.
”SAFE”~ Automatic “POWER USERS”~ Disabled “BARE BONES”~ Disabled
DCOM Server Process Launcher *
”SAFE”~ Automatic* “POWER USERS”~ Automatic* “BARE BONES”~ Automatic*
DHCP Client - Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol Client manages network configuration by registering and updating IP addresses and Domain Name Server (DNS) names. If you are only dialling up to ISP via modem, cable, etc. If you have a network card in your PC and attach out via a router or sharing device then this may be required. Set to manual if unsure then check on reboot if it has started. If not then disable.
”SAFE”~ Automatic “POWER USERS”~ Automatic “BARE BONES”~ Disabled
Distributed Link Tracking Client - maintains links between the NTFS file system files within a computer or across computers in a network domain.
”SAFE”~ Manual “POWER USERS”~ Disabled “BARE BONES”~ Disabled
Distributed Transaction Coordinator - coordinates transactions that are distributed across multiple computer systems and/or resource managers, such as databases, message queues, file systems, or other transaction-protected resource managers.
”SAFE”~ Manual “POWER USERS”~ Disabled “BARE BONES”~ Disabled
DNS Client - resolves and caches (Domain Name Server) DNS names. The DNS client service must be running on every computer that will perform DNS name resolution.
”SAFE”~ Disabled “POWER USERS”~ Disabled “BARE BONES”~ Disabled
Error Reporting Service - Calls home to Microsoft when errors occur. Spyware?
”SAFE”~ Disabled “POWER USERS”~ Disabled “BARE BONES”~ Disabled
Event Log -logs event messages issued by programs and Windows. Event Log reports contain information that can be useful in diagnosing problems.
”SAFE”~ Automatic “POWER USERS”~ Automatic “BARE BONES”~ Automatic
Fast User Switching Compatibility –
”SAFE”~ Manual “POWER USERS”~ Disabled “BARE BONES”~ Disabled
Fax Service - enables you to send and receive faxes. Disabling this service will render the computer unable to send or receive faxes. Not used by most people.
This service is renamed to FAX * after the installation of SP2
”NOT INSTALLED”
FTP Publishing Service -Not available on Windows XP Home. Not installed by default on Windows XP Pro provides (file transfer protocol) FTP connectivity and administration through the Internet Information Service (IIS) snap-in. Big security risk!
”NOT INSTALLED”
HTTP SSL.*
”SAFE”~ Manual * “POWER USERS”~ Disabled * “BARE BONES”~ Disabled *
Help and Support –
”SAFE”~ Manual * “POWER USERS”~ Disabled “BARE BONES”~ Disabled
Human Interface Device Access - If all your devices function then disable it. Seems new with no devices for it as yet.
”SAFE”~ Disabled “POWER USERS”~ Disabled “BARE BONES”~ Disabled
IIS Admin - Not available on Windows XP Home. Not installed by default on Windows XP Pro allows administration of Internet Information Services (IIS). If this service is not running, you will not be able to run Web, FTP, NNTP, or SMTP sites, or configure IIS. See also World Wide Web Publishing Service. Not usually required unless you are running a local web server. If you are then make sure that if no external access is required that you firewall protects port 80 to only local traffic! Do not even consider running a public web server unless you are 100% sure of the implications - use an ISP server.
”NOT INSTALLED”.
IMAPI CD-Burning COM Service - Used for the "drag and drop" CD burn capability. You will need this service to burn CD's.If you still can not burn a CD with it on Manual, switch to Automatic and feel safe that it will only be used when "needed."
”SAFE”~ Manual * “POWER USERS”~ Disabled “BARE BONES”~ Disabled
Indexing Service - indexes contents and properties of files on local and remote computers and provides rapid access to files through a flexible querying language.
”SAFE”~ Disabled “POWER USERS”~ Disabled “BARE BONES”~ Disabled
Internet Connection Firewall and Internet Connection Sharing - provides network address translation (NAT), addressing and name resolution services for all computers on your home or small-office network through a dial-up or broadband connection. Not required unless you are sharing a dial-up connection with other PC's on your network - not recommended! Far better to use a router or gateway firewall software for this purpose. Consider using a higher specification firewall like Kerio Win route if sharing your connection.
Renamed to “Windows Firewall/Internet Connection Sharing *
IPSEC Services - manages IP security (IPsec) policy, starts the Internet Key Exchange (IKE) and coordinates IPsec policy settings with the IP security driver. Only leave on if you are using IPSec. Opens Port 500.
”SAFE”~ Automatic * “POWER USERS”~ Disabled “BARE BONES”~ Disabled
Logical Disk Manager - watches Plug and Play events for new drives to be detected and passes volume and/or disk information to the Logical Disk Manager Administrative Service to be configured. If disabled, the Disk Management snap-in display will not change when disks are added or removed. Turn it on only if you add additional disks and then disable again.
”SAFE”~ Manual “POWER USERS”~ Disabled “BARE BONES”~ Disabled
Logical Disk Manager Administrative Service - as above
”SAFE”~ Manual “POWER USERS”~ Disabled “BARE BONES”~ Disabled
Message Queuing - A messaging infrastructure and development tool for creating distributed messaging applications for Windows. Not available on Windows XP Home. Not installed by default on Windows XP Pro. Most home users will never need this service.
”NOT INSTALLED”
Message Queuing Triggers - Not available on Windows XP Home. Not installed by default on Windows XP Pro. Required only if you use Message Queuing service.
”NOT INSTALLED”
Messenger - sends and receives messages to or from users and computers, or those transmitted by administrators or by the Alerter service. Nothing to do with MSN Messenger
”SAFE”~ Disabled “POWER USERS”~ Disabled “BARE BONES”~ Disabled
MS Software Shadow Copy Provider - Used in conjunction with the Volume Shadow Copy Service. Microsoft Backup uses these services so you will need it if you use that. You will receive Event Log entry complaining about not having this service running if Disabled.
”SAFE”~ Manual “POWER USERS”~ Disabled “BARE BONES”~ Disabled
Net Logon –
”SAFE”~ Disabled “POWER USERS”~ Disabled “BARE BONES”~ Disabled
NetMeeting Remote Desktop Sharing - allows authorized users to remotely access your Windows desktop from another PC over a corporate intranet by using Microsoft NetMeeting®. Very dangerous - allows remote access to your PC. Only use if absolutely essential and if running effective firewall.
”SAFE”~ Disabled “POWER USERS”~ Disabled “BARE BONES”~ Disabled
Network Connections -manages objects in the Network and Dial-Up Connections folder, in which you can view both network and remote connections.
”SAFE”~ Manual “POWER USERS”~ Manual “BARE BONES”~ Manual
Network DDE - Useless service unless you use remote ClipBook.
”SAFE”~ Disabled “POWER USERS”~ Disabled “BARE BONES”~ Disabled
Network DDE DSDM - as above
”SAFE”~ Disabled “POWER USERS”~ Disabled “BARE BONES”~ Disabled
Network Location Awareness (NLA) - Required for use with the Internet Connection Sharing Service ”SAFE”~ Disabled * “POWER USERS”~ Disabled “BARE BONES”~ Disabled
Network Provisioning Service*
”SAFE”~ Disabled ** “POWER USERS”~ Disabled * “BARE BONES”~ Disabled *
NT LM Security Support Provider - enables users to log on to the network using the NTLM authentication protocol. If this service is stopped, users will be unable to log on to the domain and access services. NTLM is used mostly by Windows versions prior to Windows 2000. ”SAFE”~ Manual “POWER USERS”~ Manual “BARE BONES”~ Manual
“NOT INSTALLED”
Peer Networking*
“NOT INSTALLED”
Performance Logs and Alerts - configures performance logs and alerts.
”SAFE”~ Disabled “POWER USERS”~ Disabled “BARE BONES”~ Disabled
Plug and Play - enables a computer to recognize and adapt to hardware changes with little or no user input.
”SAFE”~ Automatic “POWER USERS”~ Automatic “BARE BONES”~ Automatic
Portable Media Serial Number - Retrieves serial numbers from portable music players connected to your computer.
”SAFE”~ Disabled “POWER USERS”~ Disabled “BARE BONES”~ Disabled
Print Spooler - queues and manages print jobs locally and remotely. If you don't have a printer attached then disable.
”SAFE”~ Automatic “POWER USERS”~ Automatic “BARE BONES”~ Automatic
Protected Storage - provides protected storage for sensitive data, such as private keys, to prevent access by unauthorized services processes or users.
”SAFE”~ Automatic “POWER USERS”~ Disabled “BARE BONES”~ Disabled
QoS RSVP - provides network signaling and local, traffic-control, set-up functionality for (Quality of Service) QoS-aware programs and control applets.
”SAFE”~ Disabled “POWER USERS”~ Disabled “BARE BONES”~ Disabled
Remote Access Auto Connection Manager - creates a connection to a remote network whenever a program references a remote DNS or NetBIOS name or address. Disabling the service has no effect on the rest of the operating system. You will have to set up connections to remote computers manually. Whilst this process is convenient, unauthorized applications (such as Trojans) could bring up your network connection without your explicit request. Far better to manually dial.
”SAFE”~ Manual “POWER USERS”~ Disabled “BARE BONES”~ Disabled
Remote Access Connection Manager - creates a network connection.
”SAFE”~ Manual “POWER USERS”~ Disabled “BARE BONES”~ Disabled.
Remote Desktop Help Session Manager - Manages and controls Remote Assistance. Could create a MAJOR security hole so disable it unless absolutely necessity.
”SAFE”~ Disabled “POWER USERS”~ Disabled “BARE BONES”~ Disabled
Remote Procedure Call (RPC) - provides the endpoint mapper and other miscellaneous RPC services. Absolutely essential.
”SAFE”~ Automatic “POWER USERS”~ Automatic “BARE BONES”~ Automatic
Remote Procedure Call (RPC) Locator - Manages the RPC name service database. Useless service
”SAFE”~ Manual “POWER USERS”~ Manual “BARE BONES”~ Disable
Remote Registry Service - Not available on Windows XP Home. allows remote registry manipulation. This service lets users connect to a remote registry and read and/or write keys to it-providing they have the required permissions. Hacker could use this to attack other PC's.
”SAFE”~ Disabled “POWER USERS”~ Disabled “BARE BONES”~ Disabled
Removable Storage - manages removable media drives and libraries. This service maintains a catalogue of identifying information for removable media used by a system, including tapes, CDs, and so on.
”SAFE”~ Manual “POWER USERS”~ Disabled “BARE BONES”~ Disabled.
RIP Listener - Not installed by default.
”NOT INSTALLED”
Routing and Remote Access - offers routing services in local area and wide area network environments. Shouldn't be required on a home PC.
”SAFE”~ Disabled “POWER USERS”~ Disabled “BARE BONES”~ Disabled
Secondary Logon - allows you to run specific tools and programs with different permissions than your current logon provides.
”SAFE”~ Disabled “POWER USERS”~ Disabled “BARE BONES”~ Disabled
Security Accounts Manager -start-up of this service signals other services that the Security Accounts Manager subsystem is ready to accept requests.
”SAFE”~ Automatic “POWER USERS”~ Disabled “BARE BONES”~ Disabled
Security Center *
”SAFE”~ Disabled * “POWER USERS”~ Disabled * “BARE BONES”~ Disabled *
Server - provides RPC support and file print and named pipe sharing over the network. The Server service allows the sharing of your local resources (such as disks and printers) so that other users on the network can access them. You should carefully consider the full implications of enabling this!
”SAFE”~ Disabled “POWER USERS”~ Disabled “BARE BONES”~ Disabled
Shell Hardware Detection - Used for the auto play of devices like memory cards, some CD drives, etc. Set to Automatic if you are experiencing problems with laptop docking stations.
”SAFE”~ Automatic “POWER USERS”~ Disabled “BARE BONES”~ Disabled.
Simple Mail Transport Protocol (SMTP) - Not available on Windows XP Home. Not installed by default on Windows XP Pro. Transports e-mail across the network. If you are using the built-in mail server for receiving mail then leave on automatic. If not, as would be usual in a home environment, then disable.
”NOT INSTALLED”
Simple TCP/IP Services - Not installed by default, implements support for a number of IP protocols.
”NOT INSTALLED”
Smart Card - manages and controls access to a smart card inserted into a smart card reader attached to the computer. If not using a smart card reader then disable.
”SAFE”~ Disabled “POWER USERS”~ Disabled “BARE BONES”~ Disabled
Smart Card Helper - provides support for earlier smart card readers attached to the computer. As above.
”SAFE”~ Disabled “POWER USERS”~ Disabled “BARE BONES”~ Disabled
SNMP Service - allows incoming (Simple Network Management Protocol) SNMP requests to be serviced by the local computer.
”NOT INSTALLED”
SNMP Trap Service - receives trap messages generated by local or remote SNMP agents and forwards the messages to SNMP management programs running on the computer.
”NOT INSTALLED”
SSDP Discovery Service - Used to locate UPnP devices on your home network. Used in conjunction with Universal Plug and Play Device Host, it detects and configures UPnP devices on your home network. For security reasons Disable this service. Please read the section in the guide on UPnP. Please note that even the FBI recommends disabling and preferably uninstalling this!!
”SAFE”~ Disabled “POWER USERS”~ Disabled “BARE BONES”~ Disabled
System Event Notification - tracks system events such as Windows logon network and power events. Notifies COM+ Event System subscribers of these events. SENS is an AutoStarted service that depends on COM+ EventSystem service.
”SAFE”~ Automatic “POWER USERS”~ Disabled “BARE BONES”~ Disabled
System Restore Service - Creates system snap shots or restore points for returning to at a later time. Big resource overhead! Forget about it!
”SAFE”~ Disabled “POWER USERS”~ Disabled “BARE BONES”~ Disabled
Task Scheduler - enables a program to run at a designated time. Can be very dangerous. If you must run scheduled tasks then consider disabling all users other than administrator from running tasks. Can create major security problems and allow a hacker to compromise your system by scheduling trojans to run.
”SAFE”~ Automatic “POWER USERS”~ Disabled “BARE BONES”~ Disabled
TCP/IP NetBIOS Helper Service - enables support for NetBIOS over TCP/IP (NetBT) service and NetBIOS name resolution. Only required if you need to share files with others.
”SAFE”~ Disabled “POWER USERS”~ Disabled “BARE BONES”~ Disabled
TCP/IP Printer Server - Not installed by default, but if needed, you may install it later off of the WinXP CD. Used for setting up a local UNIX print server. If you do not need this function, leave it uninstalled.
”NOT INSTALLED”
Telephony - provides Telephony API (TAPI) support for programs that control telephony devices and IP-based voice connections on the local computer and through the LAN on servers that are also running the service. If you never use a dial-up modem on a PC but connect via a router then disable.
”SAFE”~ Manual “POWER USERS”~ Disabled “BARE BONES”~ Disabled
Telnet - Not available on Windows XP Home and for good reason!! allows a remote user to log on to the system and run console programs by using the command line. Very dangerous. .
”SAFE”~ Disabled “POWER USERS”~ Disabled “BARE BONES”~ Disabled
Terminal Services - provides a multisession environment that allows client devices to access a virtual Windows 2000 Professional desktop session and Windows-based programs running on the server. Big security risk!
”SAFE”~ Manual “POWER USERS”~ Disabled “BARE BONES”~ Disabled
Themes - Used to display all those new XP themes and colors on your desktop. Lots of space needed.
”SAFE”~ Automatic “POWER USERS”~ Disabled “BARE BONES”~ Disabled
Uninterruptible Power Supply - manages communications with a UPS connected to the computer by a serial port.
”SAFE”~ Disabled “POWER USERS”~ Disabled “BARE BONES”~ Disabled
Universal Plug and Play Device Host - Used in conjunction with SSDP Discovery Service, it detects and configures UPnP devices on your home network. For security reasons Disable this service immediately. Please read the section in the guide on UPnP. Please note that even the FBI recommends disabling and preferably uninstalling this!!
”SAFE”~ Disabled “POWER USERS”~ Disabled “BARE BONES”~ Disabled
Upload Manager - As with BITS, this service manages file transfers between clients and servers on the network. This service is NOT required for basic File and Print sharing. Removed after SP2
”SAFE”~ Disabled “POWER USERS”~ Disabled “BARE BONES”~ Disabled
Volume Shadow Copy - Used in conjunction with the MS Software Shadow Copy Provider Service. Microsoft Backup uses these services.
”SAFE”~ Manual “POWER USERS”~ Disabled “BARE BONES”~ Disabled
WebClient - Disable this for security reasons.
”SAFE”~ Disabled “POWER USERS”~ Disabled “BARE BONES”~ Disabled
Windows Audio - This service is Required if you wish to hear any audio at all. If your computer does not have a sound card, Disable this service.
”SAFE”~ Automatic “POWER USERS”~ Automatic “BARE BONES”~ Automatic
Windows Image Acquisition (WIA) - Used for some scanners and cameras. If, after Disabling this service, your scanner or camera fails to function properly, enable this service.
”SAFE”~ Manual “POWER USERS”~ Disabled “BARE BONES”~ Disabled
Windows Firewall/Internet Connection Sharing
”SAFE”~ Manual “POWER USERS”~ Disabled “BARE BONES”~ Disabled
Windows Installer - installs, repairs, or removes software according to instructions contained in .MSI files provided with the applications
”SAFE”~ Manual “POWER USERS”~ Manual “BARE BONES”~ Manual
Windows Management Instrumentation - provides system management information. WMI is an infrastructure for building management applications and instrumentation shipped as an integral part of the current generation of Microsoft operating systems.
”SAFE”~ Automatic “POWER USERS”~ Automatic “BARE BONES”~ Automatic
Windows Management Instrumentation Driver Extension - Not available on Windows XP Home. Tracks of all of the drivers that have registered WMI information to publish.
”SAFE”~ Manual “POWER USERS”~ Manual “BARE BONES”~ Manual
Windows Time - sets the computer clock. W32Time maintains date and time synchronization on all computers running on a Microsoft Windows network. NTP can be dangerous. Not worth the risk.
”SAFE”~ Disabled “POWER USERS”~ Disabled “BARE BONES”~ Disabled
Wireless Zero Configuration - Automatic configuration for wireless network devices. If you do not have any wireless network devices in use, Disable this service.
”SAFE”~ Disabled “POWER USERS”~ Disabled “BARE BONES”~ Disabled
WMI Performance Adapter -??
”SAFE”~ Disabled “POWER USERS”~ Disabled “BARE BONES”~ Disabled
Workstation - provides network connections and communications. If this service is turned off, no network connections can be made to remote computers using Microsoft Networks. Use if you require drive-mapping connections to other Windows PC's.
”SAFE”~ Automatic “POWER USERS”~ Automatic “BARE BONES”~ Automatic
World Wide Web Publishing Service - Not available on Windows XP Home. Provides HTTP services for applications on the Windows platform. Required if you are running a web server, but consider fire walling such a local web server so it is not visible to the world. Use an ISP web server for greatest security. Most common entry point for hackers!
”NOT INSTALLED”
As you can see from the above, not very much is actually needed to keep your Windows XP installation functioning in a home environment. All the enabled services just pose an enormous security risk, bring little or no benefit, consume resources and can be safely turned off.
If you turn off all the services suggested above and try to use Automatic Updates via WindowsUpdate@Microsoft.com, you will likely see a message something like this:
Windows Update cannot continue because a required service application is disabled. Windows Update requires the following services:
“Automatic Updates” enables detection, downloading, and installation of critical updates for your computer.
“Background Intelligent Transfer Service” (BITS) enables faster, restartable downloading of updates.
“Event Log” logs Windows Update events for troubleshooting. To ensure that these services are enabled:"
It's easy to just go back to Services, and turn these services on as you need them. An operating system shouldn't need daily updates to run. And, the more services you run, the more likely you are to need updates