Windows XP Service Pack 2 guide

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Windows XP Service Pack 2 – Do you need it?

Early in August 2004, Windows XP users began to notice an alert advising them to download Microsoft’s latest update, SP2 (Service Pack 2) for Windows XP. If you haven’t installed SP2 yet, you may be wondering what the benefits are of this new package. So here is a quick overview of what you can expect to find in this free bundle.

The main focus of SP2 is security, so not surprisingly, the first thing you will likely notice after installing the service pack is the Windows Security Center. This is a program that allows you to monitor the status of your three primary security defenses: Anti-Virus protection, Internet Firewall, and Automatic Updates. It will alert you if your Anti-Virus program’s virus definitions are out of date, so that you always remember to keep it current. If you happened to disable the built in Windows Firewall, it will remind you to re-enable it. And it will also monitor the Windows Update site and notify you when new recommended and critical updates are available for your operating system, and then assist you in installing them.

Microsoft’s integrated Windows Firewall has also been updated and is now quite a bit more functional. Previous versions of this firewall were buggy and easily bypassed by a determined hacker, but now the revamped program stands up much better to attacks directed at your computer. The interface is easy to use and allows you to customize which programs will be granted either incoming or outgoing access.

Internet Explorer has had some new goodies added with the new SP2. A Pop-up Blocker is now directly part of IE, cutting down on annoying advertisements. The Information Bar is now visible above the page-view area, and this displays information current downloads, web page security, and pop-up status.

With the advent of wireless networking technology, Microsoft has enhanced the Wireless LAN Client. Now, at a glance, you can see the connection strength, speed, and name of the network you are connected to. Opening the program allows you to view more detailed information on your current Wi-LAN, and see what other networks are available to use. Multiple “wizards” are now present as well, to assist you in setting your preferred network or adding different networking devices.

By now you should see that there are many security benefits to SP2, as well as miscellaneous bug fixes and driver updates. The easiest way to get Service Pack 2 installed on your computer is to point your browser to the Windows Update website and follow the on-screen instructions. Alternatively, a direct link to the download file can be found here.