Windows XP Pro RDP Encryption

Require Encryption

Windows XP defaults to allowing minimal or no encryption on remote desktop connections.

Click Start - Run - "%SystemRoot%\system32\gpedit.msc /s" to get to the Group Policy Editor. (See picture below.)

From here, go to Computer Configuration - Administrative Templates - Windows Components - Terminal Services - Encryption and Security.

Windows XP GPE

Changing the RDP Port

You can also move the terminal services port from 3389 to another port by changing the registry key at HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Terminal Server\WinStations\RDP-Tcp from 3389 to something else like 8001. You will then need to specify the port when you connect to your system. Connect with something like "mycomputer.example.tld:8001" instead of "mycomputer.example.tld"