Windows XP Service Pack 2 Test
Microsoft has released the new Service Pack for Windows XP, which represents one of the greater updates of seen operating system until the moment on the part of the giant of Redmond, all it in please one more a safer computer science within the well-known initiative “Trustworthy computing” undertaken by Microsoft does something more of a year.
Dec 20, 2006 01:48 PM
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In principle the Service Pack 2 offers like a gratuitous update, this does not have to confuse to us, we have gotten tired to hear during the period beta that this SP was much more than a simple update and that it was possible to be considered like a new operating system. Of doors for it go, at level of user interface, has not practically changed anything, the changes they are internal and they affect as popular products as Internet Explorer or Outlook Express, without leaving of side the new center of security, that surely will be one of stars of the next months.
These important changes are reflected in the numbers of this monstrous development, the longest period for the development of a patch more in the history of Microsoft, almost a year. Long time considering that has participated almost the totality of the members of the equipment of development of Windows that is made up of more than 7,000 people.
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| Microsoft WIndows XP Service Pack 2 comes with Windows Firewall |
For our first look to Service Pack 2 we have counted with the new platform of 64 bits of AMD, Athlon 64 3800+, specially prepared for this product, including support DEP (Data Execution Protection), that it avoids that malintencionado code is executed in the zone of memory of the operating system. Let us go then to see the changes that to us this new operating system offers, basically is centered in four points: the network, electronic mail/instantaneous mail, Web and memory.
Network and mail
Network: The improvements in this chapter were very necessary. The connection to Internet is a door opened to other users with bad intentions, although it is certain that Windows XP already had a Firewall, the functionalities of he himself were very little and for a domestic user the daily management of he himself became an authentic hell. The new Firewall is much more simple to handle and comprehensible for usury means. Firewall we can manage it from an icon that there is in the “Center of security” which, as well, we can send from the “Control Panel”. From the “Security Center” we will be able to activate or also to deactivate firewall.
Web and memory
Navigation Web: Internet Explorer was one of the great problems of the system, by means of him is acceded to Internet, therefore, he is one of the primary targets of whatever it wants to mount some malicious attack against the computer. In this area great improvements have become, as much to improve the quality of famous navigation attacking the problem of the sadly popone, like a level of security with the clear management of the installed ActiveX controls in the PC by means of the manager including in the menu. On the other hand it is impossible by means of code to locate windows of deceptive way, hiding part of them outside the reach of the user.
Internet Explorer is without a doubt the great beneficiary of this update, the manager of pop-ups works fantastically well and if we upper put it at neither the restriction level nor we our self we will be able to open absolutely nothing in new window. In order to finalize this section the local zone has made sure, this zone is the one that identifies the own machine. For example a CD ROM that is executed from the reader and that uses Internet Explorer to execute itself. Of the malicious code it used the local zone much to gain permissions and power to execute code with greater privileges, from now on this goes is to be certainly difficult, the only problem is that old applications that work with the mentioned system are possible that they let do it.
Memory: In this section the protection of the execution also called NX has been implemented (not execute). The system prevents that no program can be executed in memory no reserved for code, as much AMD as Intel is commercializing architectures that support this functionality, in our case Athlon AMD 64 3800+ has been totally compatible as it shows the capture.
In summary
In addition to commented the Service Pack 2 it includes other improvements like DirectX 9, Windows Media Player 9 or the manager of Bluetooth that we will see in depth in next deliveries. Size of Windows XP Service Pack 2 is more than 200 MB. As always, any movement of Microsoft is watched with magnifying glass after the industry and the users. In my modest opinion, this Service Pack must be installed by any user, although in the enterprise surroundings with much caution, the domestic user will obtain great improvements at security level. Let read and you act. In addition it is free! To download this Service Pack visit link which we suggest.
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Windows XP Service Pack 1 Test >> |
Microsoft published Service Pack 2 (SP2) for its operating system Windows servers 2003. The update package contains all actualizations for the software since the sales start. Besides the manufacturer promises in this SP2 are available improvements for security and stability. ...