4 Reasons to install Windows XP Service Pack 2

4 reasons you need Windows XP SP2

You probably won't notice many changes in the way your computer works. But you could be a lot safer. Windows XP Service Pack 2 with Advanced Security Technologies, a free upgrade for Windows XP users, includes every security update Microsoft has issued for XP. But you should already have those. The biggest news is the new protections available to solve some well-known problems.

Even though some consumers may already have SP2 installed, many are still deciding whether to install this new service pack or continue to stick with SP1. This article will show you four reasons you should have SP2 installed.

1. The pop-up blocker shines in Internet Explorer.

If you hate pop-up advertising, you'll love this change. Since I started using a test version of Service Pack 2, I've seen no pop-ups. It also blocks pop-under ads. True, you could block pop-ups with the MSN or Google toolbars. But now you won't have to install another program to do the job. This feature does not block pop-ups that result from an action on your part. You're likely to want those. When it blocks a pop-up, an information bar and message appear at the top of the page. You can see the pop-up by clicking on the message.

2. You get new spam and attack protections.

In Service Pack 2, Internet Explorer includes a feature called Manage Add-ons, allowing you to disable individual ActiveX controls. These "add-ons" are small programs you usually download to add some Internet capability, such as a Shockwave Flash player. With Manage Add-ons, you can disable the scripting capabilities that allow rogue sites to hijack your Internet Explorer browser and force you to go to their sites. If you've ever gotten trapped in seemingly endless redirects and secondary browser windows whose content may be pornographic, you'll welcome this feature.

Here are some other protections:

• Messenger service. This utility is now closed by default. Spammers use it to pour pop-ups into your computer. Messenger service should not be confused with Windows Messenger, Windows XP's instant-messaging program.

• Buffer overruns. In recent years, we've been repeatedly warned about buffer overruns. This simply means that a flaw in Windows allows an attacker to send too much data. This overflows the proper place in memory. The overflow gets into another memory location, where it can be used to attack you. With Service Pack 2, Microsoft has blunted this threat, but it is probably not eliminated.

• Virus attacks. Dangerous attachments are now quarantined in Outlook Express and Windows Messenger, the instant-messaging service. These attachments won't be able to attack your system, unless you insist on it. If you know that the attachment is not dangerous — for instance, if you were expecting the attachment — you can make Windows open it.

3. The built-in firewall is turned on by default.

Firewalls hide your computer from "probe programs." The bad guys use these programs to send out pings, listening for answers. When a computer port answers a ping, it is identified as vulnerable.

Windows XP has always had a built-in firewall. It does a good job of hiding the computer. However, it was turned off by default. People had to know enough to enable it. SP2 fixes that, and adds some security enhancements as well. It is now turned on by default.

But if something gets into the computer and broadcasts out — sending spam, for instance — the firewall cannot block those transmissions. Other firewalls, such as ZoneAlarm, do block them. Microsoft feels that antivirus programs should deal with malicious programs that land on the hard drive. If you agree, the Windows XP firewall is fine. If not, stick with a third-party firewall.

One or the other firewall should be disabled. Two running firewalls may well conflict with one another.

The Windows XP firewall is most important if you have a stand-alone computer. If you have a network and router, and the router has a firewall, you may not need firewalls on the individual computers.

4. Wireless support has been improved.

A new interface in Service Pack 2 makes it easier to find your wireless network. It tells you what networks are available, their strength, and their type of security. You can easily move between networks, if necessary.

Also, a new wizard in Service Pack 2 makes establishing a wireless network virtually painless. Furthermore, it steps you through security features, whether the old Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) or the new, much stronger Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA).

Overall, Service Pack 2 tightens up security considerably. But that could pose problems for some custom programs. They may have to be rewritten to accommodate new defaults. Developers who followed best practices shouldn't have a problem, but you should have your developer test his or her work with Service Pack 2 right away. Don't wait.

Other programs could also have issues with SP2. Microsoft quickly developed a list after SP2 was finalized. This isn’t surprising; SP2 is a very major update.

If you have some of these issues, you may be tempted to ignore Service Pack 2. Don't. It's crucial.

Complete Article @ Microsoft