Review: Microsoft Windows XP SP2

Over the years, we’ve gotten used to Microsoft releasing a new version of Windows every two or three years. That is no longer the case. Windows XP was released in 2002; the next version of the operating system (OS)—codenamed Longhorn—isn’t due to ship until 2006 at the earliest.

Because Windows runs on anywhere from 90 to 95% of all computers worldwide, it presents a huge, irresistible target for hackers, crackers and marketers. Its security flaws (and those of its bundled browser, Internet Explorer) have been magnified by all this attention, which leaves Microsoft playing catch up with dozens and dozens of security patches and hotfixes.

As an interim step, and as an attempt to plug some of the many security holes, the Redmond gang pulled a bunch of programmers off Longhorn and dedicated their efforts to creating Service Pack 2 for Windows XP. Their primary mandate, from Bill Gates himself, was to create a more secure Windows XP. That they did this more successfully than we’re used to seeing, given their history, is fairly amazing.

New SP2 features include:

  • Security Center panel —Like a command and control center for your computer’s security. Tracks the status of your Firewall, Virus protection and Automatic Updates (see graphic, right)
  • Enhanced firewall protection—Easier to find (available from the Security Center panel), more powerful than the earlier attempt, known as Internet Connection Firewall and easier in many ways to configure (see graphic, right)
  • Pop-up blocker in Internet Explorer—Hard to believe now, but pop-ups must have seemed like a good idea at one time—another way to make a site seem more interactive—but through overuse and just plain abuse, it seems as though we’re all pretty sick and tired of them. IE can now block unwanted pop-ups, while allowing you to select what you’d like to see pop-up and stopping nearly everything else (see graphic, right)
  • Drive-by download prevention in IE—Some of the biggest problems we see every day are caused by drive-by downloads. You visit a site and, unbeknownst to you, it installs some malware on your PC—a Trojan or a browser hijacker. IE now allows you to control BHO’s—Browser Helper Objects with it's Mange Add-Ons configuration tool. (see graphic, right)
  • Automatic Updates improvements—Keeps your computer up-to-date with any critical security patches and hotfixes as they’re released
  • Easier wireless networking—Makes installing and managing a wireless network easier and more secure
  • Streamlined Add/Remove programs dialog—Items from Windows Update are no longer listed in the main Add/Remove panel
  • Better Bluetooth recognition & configuration—And isn’t it about time?
  • Unsafe attachments blocked in Outlook Express & Windows Messenger—While this will confuse some, it will save countless others from themselves, disabling dangerous attachments by disabling all attachments. This may seem extreme, after years of warning against it, we just can’t seem to get some people to stop opening these viruses and Trojans.

What’s Missing?

We’d like to see even more security, for example, scanning and removal tools for viruses, Trojans, adware/spyware, all forms of malware. As Microsoft recently purchased a small anti-virus firm, this may well change in Longhorn.

What Seems Buggy?

Since installing SP2, we’ve noticed a couple of things:

  • Windows Explorer (and by association any dialogue that needs it, like Open or Save) is running painfully slow. In some cases it takes between 45 and 60 seconds to open the dialog box and/or open a folder.
  • Several times, our screen saver, Windows own My Pictures Slideshow, has frozen; this appears to be related to the above problem, in that Windows seems to be having difficulty accessing the photos.
  • Our second hard drive became a dynamic, rather than a basic disc; this is something you’d do if you were using a RAID (Redundant Array of Inexpensive Disks) configuration; we’re not. We changed it and thought we might've damaged that second drive. Fortunately, the diagnostic tools available from the manufacturuer (Western Digital) were able to restore it to good health.

Conclusion: Should You Install SP2?

Well, yes. While we have some reservations and other features we’d like to see, we have to admit that Microsoft hit it out of the park with this Service Pack.

The security improvements and enhanced Automatic Updates features alone make it worth installing. In fact, we’ll go one step further: install this ASAP—this is the new baseline for securing your PC against intruders and malware. Without it, you’re leaving your computer exposed.

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Updated: November 18, 2005