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Window XP Service Pack 2 Offers Better ProtectionWindow XP Service Pack 2 (SP2) is a free update for Windows XP. It offers enhancements and better protection from viruses, hackers, and worms. With features like Windows XP Firewall, Pop-up Blocker for Window Internet Explorer, and Windows XP Security Center, you can be confident that your computer has the right tools to stay more secure and up to date. Window XP Service Pack 2 Features The Windows XP Firewall is one of the more important features and includes other improvements over its predecessor, Internet Connection Firewall (ICF). The default state of Windows XP Firewall is on, but with exceptions. These exceptions are basically a list of programs that you allow to receive messages from the outside world. It doesn't prevent outbound, application-initiated communications. For example, you can allow File and Printer sharing, Microsoft FrontPage, and Remote Assistance to receive messages from the outside world. But the Messenger Service, Remote Desktop, and other services are cut off. When you access the internet from an unsafe place like a hotel or airport, you can configure the Windows XP Firewall for "On, but don't allow exceptions". Windows XP Firewall settings apply to all Windows XP Home Networking connections by default. It's on during bootup which will provide additional protection during a usually vulnerable time. The first time an application receives a message from over any Windows XP Home Networking connection, it will pop-up a dialog box, which you must respond to before any data transfer takes place.
A new dashboard that will appear any time the system detects that your Windows XP Firewall , Antivirus for Windows XP, or automatic updating functionality is turned off or unavailable. It doesn't have its own Antivirus for Windows XP package, and integrates with only some third party Antivirus for Windows XP utilities but not with Zone Alarm. For third party Windows XP firewall users, you can turn Windows XP Firewall off and set the Windows XP Security Centers "firewall" setting to "Unknown". You can also use its Alert settings to turn off Windows XP firewall alerts if you don't want to be nagged. It also provides links to Windows XP Security resources on both your local hard drives and at Microsoft.com. It can manually be launched from Control Panel. It is a handy tool for quickly assessing the securuty of your system. It does nothing to assess any spyware, anti-spam, or privacy software protection installed. More Window XP Service Pack 2 Features Window Internet Explorer (IE) now blocks pop-up ads by default and it doesn't require an additional Window Internet Explorer (IE) toolbar. Each time a Web site attempts to open a pop-up window, Window Internet Explorer (IE) opens a small yellow panel called the the Information Bar at the top of the browser display area, alerting you. If you wish to open the window, just click on the Information Bar and a small menu offers you that ability. You can also configure whether certain sites can always launch pop-ups. You can optionally configure Window Internet Explorer (IE)'s pop-up blocker to play a sound when pop-ups are blocked or hide the information bar. The second major improvement is preventing drive-by downloads in Window Internet Explorer (IE) which would prevent malicious Web sites to infect your system with viruses, worms, or other malware.. Instead, you're presented with a dialog box explaining the risk, and elect to download if you trust the source . Window Internet Explorer (IE) has a Manage Add-ons Applet that lets you view the IE add-ons and disable any previous add-ons you don't want. Window Internet Explorer (IE) is still missing the the handy tabbed browsing feature which lets you open secondary windows inside the same browser window.
Outlook Express The number one reason most Windows systems get infected with viruses is that users open email attachments from senders they don't know. Outlook Express (OE) email client and Windows Messenger instant messenging client finally get unsafe attachment blocking. When someone sends you an attachment with an EXE or similar extension, Outlook Express (OE) and Windows Messenger will prevent you from opening that attachment. Any unsafe attachments that are downloaded are swept into a special folder that is logically separated from the rest of the system. If you attempt to run the program, it will fail. If you attempt to move the file to a new unsafe, location or rename the file, it will still fail. You can get around this behavior by accessing the file's Properties dialog and accessing a new option. Additional Window XP Service Pack 2 Features Automatic Updates and Windows XP Updates First, you get a full-screen Automatic Updates advertisement the first time you boot a Window XP Service Pack 2 system, which strongly recommends turning on Automatic Updates. Automatic Updates is set up by default to not only download, but install any critical updates. Microsoft has configured Automatic Updates to bug you incessantly if you turn it off. The Patched Management Technology was improved which means you can take advantage of small patch download sizes. If you decide to temporarily ignore a critical update install, the "install on shutdown" feature will automatically install the update the next time you shut down. Wireless Windows XP Home Networking Support The new Wireless Windows XP Home Networking Connection Application lets you see which wireless networks are in range, whether they're secure or insecure and lets you connect to them easily. Once you've OK'd an insecure connection, it even remembers and stop asking you. Using the Wireless Windows XP Home Networking Setup Wizard, you can create a wireless network, assign a secure WEP or WPA network key for Windows XP Security and then use a USB flash drive to push those setting to other Window XP Service Pack 2 PCs. You can set up the Windows XP Home Networking manually and when you're done, the wizard offers to print out the settings to other (non-Window XP Service Pack 2) machines. Other Window XP Service Pack 2 Features
Media Player for Windows XP (MPXP) A capable all-in-one media player that integrated with the underlying system to provide music and video playback and organization. MPXP was replaced by Windows Media Player 9 (WMP 9) series which was far more impressive. WMP 9 was accompanied by a revolutionary set of audio and video codecs - Windows Media Audio (WMA) 9 and Windows Media Video (WMV) 9 which set the standard for compression, quality and file size.
This release contains better compatibility with other video and audio programs thanks to a new ability to turn off other application's video filters. It also includes Digital Video (DV) pass-through, which allows you to transfer video from an audio video camera or VCR to your computer by using a DV camera to convert the analog video to a digital format. There is a new constant bit rate (CBR) default capture setting in the video capture wizard. That concludes the major features of Window XP Service Pack 2. Window XP Service Pack 2 Conclusion Window XP Service Pack 2 is wholeheartedly recommended and every user should upgrade to this release as soon as possible in order to take advantage of its enhanced security features. Don't forget to leave Windows XP Firewall and Automatic Updates on.
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