MaximumPC 2004 03

Windows XP Service Pack 2

Improves Security, Wireless, and more!

We take an early look at Win XP’s biggest update yet and come away

impressed with its enhanced security—and decreased annoyances

M

icrosoft is putting the finishing

touches on a massive update

for Windows XP that addresses

numerous security concerns, Wi-Fi

connectivity, Internet Explorer , and even

64-bit computing.

At press time, SP2 Beta was being

tested by registered Microsoft developers

for potential release in July. We got our

hands on that same beta and what we saw

impressed us. Here are six reasons why we’ll

be lining up to update Windows XP on day

one of SP2’s release.

Read ‘em and weep hot tears of joy.

Quick Start The beginning of the magazine, where articles are small

Messenger service is now off.

Microsoft’s insidious Messenger service,

intended for network admins but

most commonly known for allowing

“UNIVERSITY DIPLOMA” pop-up spam,

will be turned off by default.

A more powerful and

configurable firewall. In SP2,

Windows firewall utilizes a more

interactive interface and now asks

permit-or-deny questions about

programs making unauthorized

network connections. The firewall also

runs during boot-up. Service Pack 1’s

firewall doesn’t, which leaves a gap of

vulnerability between the time your

PC comes alive and the firewall service

kicks in.

Improved Internet Explorer. For the first time in ages,

Microsoft is substantially improving IE. The most significant

additions are a built-in pop-up blocker and a “Manage Add-

Ons” screen that lets you examine the third-party code

modules that have integrated themselves with your browser.

Troublesome modules (read: spyware) can be disabled, and

IE now tracks crashes more carefully to help programmers

debug problems. Furthermore, modules should have a

harder time integrating themselves with IE without your

knowledge or permission.

Simpler and more

convenient Wi-Fi access.

Win XP’s wireless LAN client

gets a new, streamlined look.

The original version becomes

hard to manage as Windows

discovers and keeps track of

more than a few access point

configurations. Microsoft has

also preconfigured hotspot

profiles to make logging into

various national services like

T-Mobile easier. An Automatic

Connection feature allows

you to easily hook into your

preferred networks whenever

they’re in range. Finally,

Bluetooth now works better

for simple connections like

keyboards, mice, and PDA

links, and shouldn’t require

external software to activate.

Local content zone lockouts.

Internet Explorer will be more

cautious about the permissions

it gives to HTML files considered

part of the “local content”

zone. In the past, tricksters have

loaded malicious code that

never would’ve gotten through

your web connection to your

hard drive and prompted the

browser to open the code from

there. ActiveX and similar

functions will be disabled by

default for such local files,

making it harder to obtain and

execute web Trojans.

Numerous internal changes. While SP2 also incorporates

a slew of internal changes that mostly affect developers, one

change we’re closely watching is Execution Protection. This

should help keep your programs running more smoothly in

64-bit or hybrid 32/64-bit environments. Given the very real

potential for instability when 32- and 64-bit drivers mix, as

well as the potential for certain 64-bit applications to crash

when running on a system with huge memory capacities,

Execution Protection may turn out to be one of the major

perks for power users in SP2.

Windows XP Service Pack 2 aims to prove

that Microsoft gives a hoot about security

by upgrading the existing basic firewall to

a highly configurable one.

MARCH 2004 MAXIMUMPC 13

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