The main purpose for SP2 is security. What SP2 provides is what Windows users have been asking for from the beginning.
* Simple, secure wireless networking * Stronger firewall enabled by default * Pop-up blocking in Internet Explorer * Attachment protection in Outlook Express and Windows Messenger * Automatic updates
Security Center is a new service in Windows XP Service Pack 2 which provides a central location for changing security settings, learning more about security, and ensuring that the user’s computer is up to date, with the essential security settings that are recommended by Microsoft. You can use Security Center by clicking on the START MENU, then go SETTING. Click on CONTROL PANEL. There you will find something new, it is the Security Center icon. This will be where you will manage you antivirus, firewall and Windows Updates.
Windows XP SP2, there are many new features for Windows Firewall, including the following: *Enabled by default. •New configuration options that apply to all connections. •New set of dialog boxes. •Startup security. •Excepted traffic can be specified. •Built-in support for Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) traffic. •New configuration options.
The new Windows Firewall dialog box contains the following tabs:General, Exceptions, Advanced. What Microsoft has done with there firewall is give more detail and flexablity. The question that you will need to ask yourself is, How tight of a firewall you want and need?
I found an interesting article this morning about a big possible problem with SP2. Cut and past the below link in your web browser's address bar for the details.
For those who have a dial up connection to the internet. Microsoft will send you a CD with the updates. It is not available as of yet. I will let you know when it is.
