Windows XP Service Pack 2 Overview
Published: August 4, 2004
Computers are becoming remarkably capable and advanced. Trouble is, so are the hackers, viruses, and worms that threaten them. That's why Microsoft has made security a top priority, and is helping users like you take a proactive approach to protecting your PC, information, and privacy.
Introducing Windows XP Service Pack 2 with Advanced Security Technologies
Service Packs offer convenient, all-in-one access to the most up-to-date drivers, tools, security enhancements, and other critical updates.
The latest service pack for Windows XP—Service Pack 2 (SP2)—is all about security improvements, and it's one of the most important service packs ever released.
What makes SP2 so important?
Providing a comprehensive collection of updates, innovations, and advanced security technologies, SP2 offers:
| • | Improved Internet Web browsing and communication with new technologies designed to reduce unwanted content and downloads. |
| • | New security tools engineered expressly for Windows XP, so the process of managing security settings and staying up to date is less confusing and time-consuming. |
| • | Support for the latest computing experiences—whether you're a gamer, mobile user, or digital media enthusiast. |
Specifically, how does SP2 help secure my PC?
When you install SP2 on your Windows XP-based PC, you can feel confident that you're running the most secure Windows operating system available. You'll be supported by innovative features and default safeguards that will increase your overall security levels significantly. For example:
Take control with Windows Security Center. When it comes to managing your Windows XP security settings, the new Windows Security Center is your command central. At a glance, you can monitor your current level of PC protection, including: firewall status, automatic update settings, and virus protection.
Help protect your PC with Windows Firewall. Turned on by default, the new, built-in Windows Firewall helps defend your PC against viruses and intruders who try to access your computer over the Internet.
Block distracting pop-ups in Microsoft Internet Explorer. Now you can stop most browser windows that Web sites pop up without your permission, giving you more control and less interruption when you're browsing the Web.
Avoid harmful communications with improvements to Outlook Express. E-mail is a great way to share photos, links to interesting articles, and other attachments. But some attachments contain viruses that wreak havoc on your system. Outlook Express now supports a new Attachment Manager which isolates attachments as you open them. This prevents the opening of unsafe attachments which can infect your system with a virus or worm.
Go wireless more securely. If you have a wireless network, or if you connect to the Internet at coffee shops or airports, the improved wireless support offered in SP2 simplifies the process of discovering and connecting to wireless networks.
In addition to significant security-related enhancements, SP2 also offers Microsoft's latest hardware and software innovations. These new drivers and updates will help you use Windows Media Player, Microsoft DirectX, and emerging standards such as Bluetooth technologies more safely and effectively.
The sooner you install it, the safer you'll be
Now is the time to strengthen your Windows XP operating system by installing SP2 for free. Just visit www.microsoft.com/protect to download SP2 to your PC. It's a smart way to make sure you're doing everything in your power to help protect your PC and the valuable personal information you have stored on it.
System Requirements: To install SP2, you need a PC running Microsoft Windows XP which has at minimum a CD-ROM drive, a 233-Mhz processor, 64MB RAM, and 900MB of available disk space during installation.
It's free and easy to install Windows XP SP2. Visit www.microsoft.com/protect to learn more.
Tip: Automatically keep your PC up-to-date with the Windows XP Automatic Updates feature
With Automatic Updates, Windows routinely checks for updates that can help protect your computer against the latest viruses and other security threats. These high-priority updates are available through the
Microsoft Update and include security updates, critical updates, and service packs.
As soon as you install SP2 you will be prompted to turn on Automatic Updates. After you turn it on you won't have to search for updates online or worry that critical updates might be missing. Windows automatically downloads and installs them for you, using a schedule that you determine. If you prefer to download and install updates yourself, you can also set up Automatic Updates to notify you whenever any high-priority updates become available.
Note If you choose to install updates yourself, remember to click the alert bubble on the bottom of your screen to actually install the updates.
Turn on Automatic Updates. It's the simplest way to ensure that you are taking advantage of every update and enhancement as soon as it becomes available.
Checking your Automatic Updates settings is easy to do:
1. | Click Start, click Control Panel, click Performance and Maintenance and then click System. |
2. | On the Automatic Updates tab, click Automatic (recommended). |
For more information about protecting your PC, visit: www.microsoft.com/protect.
Note You may recall that Windows XP Service Pack 1 (SP1) was released in September 2002. If you never installed SP1, don't worry. Every improvement contained in SP1 is also included in SP2.
