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'Security Center' Planned for Windows XP SP2

By David Worthington, BetaNews

February 25, 2004, 11:49 AM

Microsoft has packed more of a punch into Windows XP Service Pack 2. Details have emerged indicating that a new "Security Center" will be incorporated into the update to further secure the three year old operating system.

Contrary to some reports, Security Center is not the PC Satisfaction code that Microsoft tested several months ago. Instead, Microsoft drew upon the feedback gained during the trial to introduce a new user interface concept.

The PC Satisfaction trial shined a spotlight on how Microsoft thought Windows could be improved to provide customers with better security and reliability.  Testers reported features that are normally not included in Windows but supplied by independent software vendors including: a full-fledged antivirus scanner, a self updating firewall, and programmatic data backups.

While similar in its appearance and style, the Windows XP Security Center interface does not contain those elements. Instead, the interface display dialogs telling whether "Security Essentials" such as a firewall, automatic updating, and virus protection are turned on. 

Other items in Security Center focus on tuning Windows security settings, provide helpful hints and manage ActiveX controls.

Microsoft provides recommendations in the event that no virus protection is present on a system. The company will not provide its own scanning engine despite having partnered with F-Secure for PC Satisfaction, and acquiring GeCAD in June 2003.

Commenting on the updated service pack, a Microsoft spokesperson told BetaNews, "Microsoft did utilize feedback gained during the PC Satisfaction Trial in building the Windows Security Center user interface that is planned for SP2."

Other improvements destined to be included in the service pack are a new version of Internet Explorer, safeguards for Outlook Express, improved memory protection, and a more powerful firewall - now enabled by default. 

The most recent beta release of Windows XP Service Pack 2 -- build number 2082 -- has bundled support for the forthcoming "Lonestar" Tablet PC upgrade, and Microsoft's Windows XP Media Center Edition. Windows Media Player is also scheduled for an update.

Windows XP SP 2 is expected to ship midway through 2004.

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By utomo

posted Mar 10, 2004 - 11:18 PM

Security center is not a total solutions. it just a better security for win xp. but it is not enough at all.

Here my comments on the xp reloaded for the Security:
- The outlook express security setting is not enough. we need advanced setting to configure level1 and level 2 for each extention.
- Firewall setting is too basic/low. we need more setting to allow/disallow somethings, based on many criteria, IP, applications, ETC.
Microsoft need to learn many more from firewall software such as zone alarm. or buy it and put the technology on the windows xp sp2.

Score: 0

By Aires

posted Mar 9, 2004 - 8:54 AM

I'll make this brief. XP is the best Windows OS yet - that's very true. However MS do not have a good track record regarding security. MS always choose style over security, it would seem at all costs. While a good idea in theory, I would not trust an MS security centre at all. If a security centre is integrated into SP2 then I will not install SP2. MS needs to work closer with Norton and McAfee and give them access to the XP code to enable them to produce better integrated products. While MS are security conscious, they are far from being security minded.

Score: 0

By Tylius

posted Mar 2, 2004 - 11:46 PM

Windows 95, and 98, compared to Windows XP were horrible, that damned blue screen of death hit me daily. WinXP is surprisinly stable, and I do a lot of funky things with the computer to make it crash. I'm just hoping the SP2 solves those damned pop-ups, untill then, I'm using Netscape or SlimBrowser (Very good by the way). Linux is awesome also, I like it, (I've got both installed), but I'd prefer to stick with Windows for playing my games, I get the most out of them on it. Otherwise, Linux is great also.

Score: 0

By HaMMerHeD

posted Mar 1, 2004 - 9:08 AM

I am not one to rush to Microsoft's side and defend them at all costs. Certainly, there are things about WindowsXP which I don't like (mostly in the vain of licensing). However, this senseless bashing of what I believe is their best OS to date, is really out of hand.
I have been working with Windows XP since the day it came out, and I must say, it's reliability has been top notch. There has been some instability (freezing, reboots, etc.) but it was ALWAYS tracked down to a bad, or incompatible, piece of hardware, or a piece of malware, installed by a user.
When used in conjunction with a good firewall (such as the included one), an antivirus scanner, and some common sense, Windows XP has been an amazing performer in my work and home environment.
No operating system in the world is immune from stupid users or lazy admins. Not Linux, not xBSD, not UNIX, and certainly not Windows XP.
In summation, make sure your PC platform is stable before you throw an operating system on it. An operating system cannot be stable if the underlying platform is not.

Score: 0

By rauckr

posted Mar 6, 2004 - 9:52 AM

I couldn't agree with you more. Windows XP is quite stable. The one problem I've had is related to applications trying to change system DLLs. I understood this release would not permit it. My experience has been that I occasionally get pop-up dialogs asking me to insert my OS installation disk so Windows can put the correct DLL back because some app has just changed it. I insert the disk and get the messge that I have provided the wrong disk. The OS is asking for the Service Pack 2 disk (not relaeased yet). I am not a beta tester for this product so I don't have it. If this is a typo and it really wants the Service Pack 1 disk, I am still SOL since I downloaded it from the net and have no disk. Why allow the DLL change in the first place? So far I haven't seen problems related to this issue but it is disturbing.

Score: 0

By geekz

posted Mar 2, 2004 - 10:20 PM

Microsoft is boring. Their browser is archaic (and boring). Their OS follies seem simply aimed at DRMing everything for their entertainment buddies. Heck, they can't even get a service pack out the door on time! Gates is out trying to drum up new computer students because he leads an industry that gets more boring everyday, mostly because he has been busy sucking the innovation right out of it. No doubt Longhorn will finally fulfill Bill's dream of taking control of the computer out of the user's hands. Of course, the users will then take the computers oiut of their hands and Gates will be ruler of nothing. And speaking of boring, why is Mr. Gates still so obsessed with maintaining his boring monopoly with his subpar products and stolen ideas. The old man really needs to decide he has enough money and let somebody run MS who wants to do something creative.

Frankly, all the interesting stuff in computing right now is coming from Linux, AMD and Mozilla. The rest of it is just so much BS.

Score: 0

By HaMMerHeD

posted Mar 3, 2004 - 8:53 AM

I will say this. Linux IS the future. It WILL dominate and extinct Windows and Microsoft WILL concede to it. Windows, however, is now...But only on the desktop.
I wouldn't run a Windows based server if my life depended on it.

Score: 0

By HaMMerHeD

posted Mar 3, 2004 - 8:50 AM

Ah, the linux voice speaks. Linux is great. It is an outstanding OS that gets more outstanding with every kernel release. The only problem is that it is almost useless to the average joe. Sure, that is the average Joe's fault for buying a Microsoft laden PC. But what other choice does he have? Does he go with a known performer with an environment that he is comfortable with, or does he go with a known performer with an environment that is not only uncomfortable, but barely managable? For most people (that is, the ones how know they have a choice) the choice is pretty clear. As for me, I stick with WindowsXP on the desktops in business because businesses almost demands MS Office it. If I get an MS Word attachment, and OpenOffice (great product) mangles it because its .DOC parser isnt up to snuff, that is a problem. At home, on my own computer, I stick with WindowsXP because my computer is for gaming, and Linux gaming hasnt matured yet. It will, though, and I will certainly not hesitate to make the switch. As for my servers, both at the office and at home, I run Debian/Sarge all the way.
Linux is ready for the enterprise, but not the workstation. Not only does the Office software need to mature, but the paradigm of Corporate America must change. That, my friend, is a much harder task than fixing OpenOffice.

Score: 0

By Alex T.

posted Mar 1, 2004 - 5:01 PM

I agree, XP is their best OS to date and it is incredibly solid.

Score: 0

By HaMMerHeD

posted Mar 1, 2004 - 9:20 AM

Oops. Accidentally clicked twice. ;)

Score: 0

By HaMMerHeD

posted Mar 1, 2004 - 9:05 AM

I am not one to rush to Microsoft's side and defend them at all costs. Certainly, there are things about WindowsXP which I don't like (mostly in the vain of licensing). However, this senseless bashing of what I believe is their best OS to date, is really out of hand.
I have been working with Windows XP since the day it came out, and I must say, it's reliability has been top notch. There has been some instability (freezing, reboots, etc.) but it was ALWAYS tracked down to a bad, or incompatible, piece of hardware, or a piece of malware, installed by a user.
When used in conjunction with a good firewall (such as the included one), an antivirus scanner, and some common sense, Windows XP has been an amazing performer in my work and home environment.
No operating system in the world is immune from stupid users or lazy admins. Not Linux, not xBSD, not UNIX, and certainly not Windows XP.
In summation, make sure your PC platform is stable before you throw an operating system on it. An operating system cannot be stable if the underlying platform is not.

Score: 0

By dj-kev

posted Feb 29, 2004 - 7:19 PM

i've had XP pro for a while now. Even from day one it run like a pig. Cannot grumble though, you should of seen what 98 was like or even worse ME. XP is the best so far but far from perfect. Problems include, freezing, crap security and virus prone to name but a few. SP2 is long overdue. No word of a lie i have done a fresh install a couple of times then i install and update my anti virus and firewall before windows and even before i can finish updating the antivirus and firewall i have managed to get the blaster virus and that is on broadband. Luckily enough i have managed to get rid of it ok. I then update xp which takes around 100mb of updates on top of sp1. Thank god i am not on 56k dial up or i would be there all week. Hurry up SP2 you are in demand

Score: 0

By geekz

posted Feb 29, 2004 - 2:11 PM

That with windows it's always, "It WILL do this, it WILL do that." and most of the time it never does. So what's the current release date for the latest WILL? April? May? 2005?

Microsoft and Intel.....land of the WILL do!

Score: 0

By ds0934

posted Feb 29, 2004 - 1:22 AM

At the end of the day, if you care more about what O/S you're using than what beer to drink, you need help.

Score: 0

By eXtraPerformance

posted Feb 27, 2004 - 6:39 PM

I kinda think Microsoft came out with this to get more people to buy Windows XP. I have XP now and like it a lot better than 98. As for Apple being better, I'm not sure. I'd really like an Apple, but not yet. As for Windows being the best, I'm not sure about that either. There are TONS of things that can go wrong, and a lot of things ,up until this next update, made it worse. I sounds like it'll be good, but as I've learned with any company, don't get your hopes up. I'm actually glad that they are working on XP. I feel they didn't work too much on 98, or Me, and I hope they decide to stick with XP awhile before they go and and make a new version.

Score: 0

By skunkjar

posted Feb 27, 2004 - 3:54 AM

(Well, more than one, really) PANTHER!! for those unfortunate enough not to know, that is osx 10.3 it is also the golden key to computhing bliss.

Score: 0

By wnowak1

posted Feb 27, 2004 - 4:45 PM

anything non windows is a bliss :)

Score: 0

By initman

posted Feb 28, 2004 - 7:34 PM

NOT

MICROSOFT RULES!!! WERE NUMBER 1, WERE NUMBER 1.. ETC

Score: 0

By paradigm75

posted Feb 29, 2004 - 3:50 AM

W e
I nstall
N eedless
D ata
O n
W hole
S ystem

...support open-source

Score: 0

By Black-Wolf

posted Feb 27, 2004 - 3:00 AM

Sweet, let's see how SP2 kicks *inux's butt!! :P

Score: 0

By aamar

posted Mar 3, 2004 - 5:53 AM

I know Microsoft is the best.Becuse this compnay make good software.Good recorde of this company.

Score: 0

By Computer Rodent

posted Feb 25, 2004 - 7:39 PM

. Of course, NOTHING will satisfy the Microsoft-haters.

The DataRat

Score: 0

By Alex T.

posted Feb 25, 2004 - 5:44 PM

Sounds interesting.

Score: 0

By anthony021999

posted Feb 26, 2004 - 12:47 AM

now if they only made a OS as good as mac OS

Score: 0

By initman

posted Feb 28, 2004 - 7:33 PM

Mac's well thats a made up word meaning a load of useless crap in a tin that needs updating every second and oh they charge you for it too! funny that! Linux hmmm how could i describe that??? I know! What a pathetic piece of crap! its pure turd its not an OS its a waste of Space! Longhorn Will Beat them all! and make them all look like little seads in a bag getting ready to be put into the ground to DIE!!!

Score: 0

By wnowak1

posted Mar 1, 2004 - 12:41 AM

we can tell how STUPID you are from how you write

Score: 0

By cm7692

posted Feb 25, 2004 - 11:25 PM

my weenie is hard

Score: 0

By eXtraPerformance

posted Feb 27, 2004 - 6:40 PM

We don't care.

Score: 0

By wnowak1

posted Feb 26, 2004 - 3:25 AM

viagra?

Score: 0

By cm7692

posted Feb 26, 2004 - 7:50 PM

I just had a Monday Poo.

Since it's Thursday, that means first poo since Monday.

Score: 0

By wnowak1

posted Feb 27, 2004 - 1:49 AM

well glad you enjoyed it

Score: 0

By Morsel

posted Mar 1, 2004 - 2:52 PM

Microsucks sucked you into deeply believing that y'all know what you talking about when in fact you know dink & the best OS ever is still Windows 95. No Viruses, No worms, no bother, no game works on it anymore and the whole world is a true mess anyways!! I totally support Open-source but nothing exciting comes out of there! Mac is too expensive. Linux sucks BFT! Ahh hell, I'll just go home and have a drink.....

Score: 0

By tracekill

posted Mar 2, 2004 - 1:58 AM

I don't know where you got the idea that Windows 95 didn't have virus's or worms? Back in the DOS days there were Virus's and Worms, Look at the Mcafee trademark for proof.
Research your info before you go claiming glory for winblowz.

Score: 0

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