Protect Your Computer: New Windows Upgrade Highly Recommended

By Ricardo Harvin

 

If your computer runs on the Windows XP operating system, Service Pack 2 (SP2) is one upgrade you should perform as soon as possible. Among other things, SP2 contains critical security updates to protect your computer from viruses, worms, and hacker attacks that have wreaked havoc on both home and business computer systems worldwide.

 

In SP2, the greatly improved Windows Firewall, used to block unwanted traffic to and from your computer, is turned on by default. This feature alone will help make your computer less vulnerable to attacks. SP2 also offers improved protection from harmful file attachments and downloads, including those hidden on Web sites designed to take advantage of vulnerabilities in Windows XP and Internet Explorer.

 

As with any operating system upgrade, you need to do some research before installing SP2. Because SP2 closes many Internet security holes, some programs—including third-party anti-virus and firewall software—may stop working, or not function properly, after you upgrade.

 

While Microsoft maintains a list of programs known to have issues after installing SP2, you should take an inventory of any software you use and check directly with the manufacturer to see if there are any reports of problems with its software and SP2. This is especially important if you use older or custom-made software.

 

If you have software that won’t work with SP2, you’ll either need to modify or upgrade the software or switch to a new program that is compatible with SP2. In most cases, the cost of modifying or buying software will be less than the cost of recovering lost sales and productivity, or corrupted or stolen information, caused by successful attacks on your computer.

 

Microsoft has also improved the Windows Update feature for its software downloads, beginning with the release of SP2, which will make it easier for you to keep your computer updated with the latest patches and upgrades.

 

Windows Update can now adjust downloads so that they are performed “in the background” while your computer sits idle and can resume downloads if your connection is broken so that you don’t have to start all over. This feature is especially helpful for those who don’t have high-speed Internet connections and, much like oil changes for your vehicle, monthly checks of the Windows Update site should be part of your routine computer maintenance.

 

Overall, SP2 does a good job addressing many of the security issues in Windows XP and in creating a safer computing environment.