Windows XP Service Pack 2

Windows XP is a safe and secure operating system. Really, it is--as long as you don't connect it to the Internet. To be fair, other operating systems, including Linux and Mac OS X, are vulnerable to online attacks, too. But Windows gets more attention, and hackers were quick to discover serious flaws in the OS that made possible the Blaster and Sasser worms, along with a legion of other exploits.

Trying to make Windows more secure, Microsoft released Windows XP Service Pack 1 in 2003, and Service Pack 2 recently. Whereas SP1 focused on remedying antitrust violations with bundled Windows utilities, almost all of SP2 is devoted to beefing up Internet security. SP2 doesn't thoroughly shield you from attacks, but it's definitely worth installing for its firewall improvements, Internet Explorer pop-up blocking, and security-configuration changes. Once you've installed it, you'll probably want to tweak some of SP2's new settings, and to know where--tweaked or not--the reinforced OS remains vulnerable.

SP2's most noticeable change to Windows XP is its introduction of a new Security Center Control Panel applet. Security Center itself doesn't do much, but it provides a single location where you can view the status of the Windows Firewall (formerly known as Internet Connection Firewall) and of Windows' Automatic Updates service. The utility also tracks if you have an antivirus program installed, running, and updated.

If any of these three key security tools has been disabled or is less than fully functional, Security Center changes their corresponding status lights from green to either red or amber. The program also displays a warning icon in the system tray. A red light means that you should probably take steps to beef up security in the indicated area. An amber light signifies a service that is only partly enabled, or that a third-party product handles.

But even if all your dashboard security lights are green, you aren't necessarily safe. Conversely, certain red or amber conditions--triggered when Windows doesn't recognize your third-party firewall or antivirus program, for example--may be acceptable to you. So how do you disable that pesky tray icon?

Start by opening the Security Center: Choose Start, Control Panel and click Security Center. Many people will see a bank of green lights, thanks to SP2's more secure default settings. The firewall is now enabled by default for all Internet connections, which is a good thing if you don't have a third-party firewall program. The Automatic Updates feature downloads and installs often-crucial security updates from Microsoft while you're online. Unless you went out of your way to disable it during installation of Service Pack 2, this option will be fully enabled as well. And if you've installed an antivirus program that Microsoft recognizes, you'll get a green light in the virus-protection area.

Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2 amounts to a major "life event" for companies using the Windows platform. The update represents a major step forward in security, and many organizations will seriously consider it for several reasons. Those that plan to deploy the update need to understand several important features. Even those that don't use it still will need to consider the service pack's impact.

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