This security setting determines the strength of the default discretionary access control list (DACL) for objects. Active Directory maintains a global list of shared system resources, such as DOS device names, mutexes, and semaphores. In this way, objects can be located and shared among processes. Each type of object is created with a default DACL that specifies who can access the objects and what permissions are granted. If this policy is enabled, the default DACL is stronger, allowing users who are not administrators to read shared objects but not allowing these users to modify shared objects that they did not create. Default: Enabled. Counter Measure: Configure the System objects: Strengthen default permissions of global system objects (for example, Symbolic Links) setting to Enabled. Potential Impact: None. This is the default configuration. Fix: (1) GPO: Computer Configuration\Windows Settings\Security Settings\Local Policies\Security Options\System objects: Strengthen default permissions of internal system objects (e.g. Symbolic Links) (2) REG: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager!ProtectionMode