Microsoft fortifies Windows XP; introduces Service Pack 2
By Mumbai: | 13 Sep 2004
In addition to downloading it from the Internet, users in India will now be able to order a Windows XP SP2 CD from the Microsoft India site. These CDs will be shipped free of charge to any Windows XP user within four to six weeks of placing the order. It does not have any licensing prerequisites and can be installed on any number of desktops.
Commenting on the launch in India, Rishi Srivastava, business group head, Windows client, Microsoft Corporation India, said, "Helping our customers work in a secure and protected environment is Microsoft's number one priority, and since we introduced our 'trustworthy computing' initiative three years ago, we've done several things to ensure that we, our partners and are customers are ready to deal with security issues — holistically." He added that, "Service Pack 2 is a significant step in delivering on our goal to help customers make their PCs better isolated and more resilient in the face of increasingly sophisticated attacks."
Microsoft has already completed more than one million downloads of the beta versions of Service Pack 2, making it one of the largest test programs in the company's history. Microsoft also announced plans to localise the software in 25 languages over the next two months and distribute it to computer manufacturers, enterprise customers and consumers through downloads, retail installation, free CDs and on new PCs.
Windows XP SP 2 enhancements include the following:
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Windows firewall (formerly internet connection firewall): With Windows XP SP2, the firewall is enabled by default in the 'on-with-no-exceptions' mode, which helps customers guard against network-based attacks by unsolicited inbound traffic. The improved firewall also extends protection to a computer's boot time and shutdown process.
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Attachment manager: Windows XP SP2 establishes stronger default protection against viruses spread through Outlook Express, Windows Messenger and Internet Explorer by isolating potentially unsafe attachments during the opening process.
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Internet Explorer security improvements and stronger security default settings: It includes code-level changes in Internet Explorer that help protect against certain types of exploits. Windows XP SP2 also limits a hacker's ability to attack a PC by restricting HTML in the local machine zone from running with elevated system privileges; and it warns customers about potentially harmful downloads and helps them block unwanted software.
