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Letter to the editor

Latest XP upgrade is one you'll want

By JOHN TORRO
Published July 19, 2004

Windows XP Service Pack 2 is not the usual collection of minor changes, new device drivers and bug fixes for stability and functionality.

It is the most compelling Windows service pack upgrade to date. The reason? It introduces new security technologies to improve the ability of Windows XP computers to withstand malicious attacks from viruses and worms.

And, maybe best of all, it includes a popup blocker built into the Internet Explorer browser that does the best job of handling popups of any product I've seen. And it's free.

Expected to be available later this summer, here are the top security enhancements that make this a must upgrade for all Windows XP users:

* Network security: Along with new security technologies that help provide better protection against network-based attacks, like the MSBlaster worm, and reduced vulnerability through Remote Procedure Call, or RPC, services (a networking protocol that allows the running of code on remote computers), Service Pack 2 includes major usability enhancements to the Windows firewall.

In addition to being turned on by default, the Windows firewall includes more functionality and an improved user interface for configuration. Any application that tries to communicate out to the Internet from your PC (a favorite tactic of zombie-type viruses) is stopped while Windows XP alerts you of this attempt and prompts you for the action to take.

For applications such as Internet Explorer, which obviously needs to communicate out to the Internet, you tell Windows XP to allow this action, with an option to approve all future requests from this application. Malicious programs such as the MSBlaster worm that wreaked havoc with PCs last year will be caught and stopped before they create problems.

* E-mail/spam: Spammers often use a technique by including in the e-mail message references to images that reside on their Web servers. Sometimes these images are only 1 pixel in size, making them invisible to the e-mail recipient. When opened, however, the e-mail containing the image automatically contacts the Web server to download and display the image. This validates for the spammer that his e-mail message was received and read by your e-mail address.

The new version of Outlook Express disables, by default, images contained within an e-mail that point back to a Web server. To see the images, all you need to do is click on the Message Information Bar displayed in the opened e-mail window.

* Internet browsing: Many changes have been made in this area, and many are of a technical nature beyond the scope of the average user. But here are three much-needed changes that everyone will understand:

- Internet Windows Restrictions: This will prevent Internet Explorer windows from automatically positioning themselves where the title bar, address bar or status bars can't be seen. It's a technique that hides important security information that should be visible in the browser.

- Add-on management: Many spyware applications originate as browser add-ons, sometimes with your knowledge and sometimes without. Now you've got an easy pulldown menu on Internet Explorer where you can view and enable/disable these add-ons. Most cause browser crashes and are hardly ever useful.

- Integrated Internet Explorer popup blocker: Here's the best enhancement and the reason you're going to want to install Service Pack 2 as soon as it is available. Annoying popups will quickly become a thing of the past. I'm sure in time that other Internet annoyances will be developed to take their place, but for now, say goodbye to the unwanted popup.

The popup blocker is turned on by default, blocking automatic and background popup windows. Windows that are opened by a user's click will still open as expected. Options are available to "always," "never" or "selectively" block popups from individual sites giving you complete control.

Windows XP Service Pack 2 includes many other changes, fixes and enhancements. However, the changes in the security technologies are going to be why most PC users should install this upgrade at the first opportunity.

John Torro writes the Solutions column for Personal Tech.

[Last modified July 16, 2004, 10:43:14]