[SEL] ON TOPIC! XP Service pack 2

[Bill Dickerson]

>>The update will  recognize Norton anti virus and firewall on it's 
>>own.<<

Not all versions - it definitely won't recognize their corporate products
and I'm still checking some other versions.
It uses the wrong executable to look for and verify the corporate versions -
the morons at MS simply have no clue how other people's software works.
Geesh!
You must apply patches to the Symantec corporate versions for it to work
right. 
The built-in Windows firewall is also pretty lame - I've found holes I could
drive a truck through. When using certain remote control and other software,
it simply opens up almost all ports.
I still will not use the Windows "firewall" and still recommend a 3rd party
firewall.

I'd recommend waiting for SP2 until the dust settles - some fixes are in
process we are told.
 
**** There are some GOOD things - they have resolved the address/url
spoofing issue with IE and IE now blocks pop-ups, however, that can be bad
as some sites rely on them - but it's easy to bypass even for beginners if
you need those popups on a particular site. So IE is a lot safer now. The OS
will now block incoming net traffic that it didn't request so no more
getting an infection before your antivirus and firewall load like it did in
the past. I won't get technical here but that is a HUGE advance and
improvement!! After 

I've been testing this thing on 6 computers for 2 weeks or so - it's my job
(part of my new job)
It's thoroughly trashed a Dell notebook, we had to remove SP2 and then it
broke SP1 in the process. The notebook still isn't right. On the others, it
partially broke Symantec corporate antivirus until I disabled the firewall
in Windows. 
There is an 18% failure rate, 11% of those being "critical" or to the point
the OS needed to be reloaded, 7% being minor - issues that could be resolved
but took a pro or some time. The download is 260 meg - not for dial-up! 
Install at your own risk! 18% is a pretty high chance of you not having a
working computer.

I've got it on CD as a Microsoft developer deal.

Bill
(dealing with antivirus and security for over 15 years now)

-----Original Message-----
From: sel-bounces at lists.stationary-engine.com
[mailto:sel-bounces at lists.stationary-engine.com] On Behalf Of Jeff Allen
Sent: Saturday, September 04, 2004 11:17 PM
To: The SEL email discussion list; stationary-engine at oldengine.org
Subject: [SEL] ON TOPIC! XP Service pack 2


Hello all,

If you are reading this you are using a computer and I consider this on
topic. Security is an issue and now and then we bring it up here for good
reason. 

I just did the service pack 2 for Windows XP tonight. Very time consuming
all at once. My comments and recommendations below. 

For most users wait a few weeks or so while things work out. This is not for
the timid or average user. You need to run a spyware program such as Adaware
first. If you don't have it get it and use it on a regular basis. 

The update will  recognize Norton anti virus and firewall on it's own. Can't
tell you if it's up to date and so far I haven't figured out if it can. It
will warn you though. If you have a firewall you will have to turn off one
or the other. Windows will turn theirs on by default even if you have one.
You have to turn it off to make the one you are using work or there will be
a conflict. The XP firewall is marginal if you don't have one. Better than
nothing. 

You will have an irritation that tells you your system is not safe. Why?
Because Micro$oft won't recognize the security that many are using. Most
users should turn on the automatic update option, but I don't use it. 

If you use Outlook for e-mail you will have to manually change your
settings. Any and all attachments are blocked completely. You can't save
them, open them, or look at them. This is done by default and you are never
offered a choice. 

I will pitch a bitch to Micro$soft about these issues as though they care.
Makes me feel good though like mashing a printer. For now I don't recommend
this update for the average user. I'll update on this if I think I need to. 

Regards,

Jeff Allen
Arvada, Colorado USA

http://oldengine.org/members/allen/
http://frapa.us/



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