XP SP2 Beta

Juan The Pirate · Post by **Juan The Pirate** » Tue Jan 06, 2004 3:58 am

As a member of Microsofts Peferrred something or other clique, I get unique mails and messages from them time to time.

Was I surprised to find an email this morning telling me to try out the new beta of SP2. So, being the Microsoft whore I am, I obliged with much enthusiasm.

You ever download something and wonder what it actually did. That is the beauty of SP2. I don't see many changes, but thats good cause it's a big security patch. I may not see it, but my system is more secure against intruders.

There are two big noticeable changes and a minor one that is major in it's own right.

Expanded Firewall -
For those of you who hated the MS ICF, you might want to take another look when you get SP2. The Firewall is expanded and more customizeable then ever before. Very good for the novice user. I still recommend Norton's Internet Security package, but if you can't shell out the dough for it, the Windows XP alternative isn't that bad anymore.

IE Pop-Up blocker -
For most of us, we stopped using IE a long time ago for a tabbed, pop-up blocking browser. No tabs yet, but pop-up blocking it does do, and it does it well. Similar to the system in Opera, I haven't hit one yet, which makes it nice. I am actually writing this post from an IE browser window. The test site slashdot used was espn and I also tried the site along with others I knew to have extraneous pop-ups. I will report later if I find any holes in the system.

Auto Update -
We all know and love/hate this feature, but it is put widely available to change in a screen before your computer starts up for the first time. This should help when MS needs to push out a security patch to stem the spread of a deadly virus (such as Blaster).

Most of what I have mentioned seems rather trivial, but for basic-users it constitutes a major upgrade and change to the way they do things.

Anyone else give this a whirl? Any Questions? Holla Back!

Deadman · Post by **Deadman** » Tue Jan 06, 2004 2:45 pm

where can you get it? I went to microsoft.com and I could not find it for XP(not office). OR is it that it is for Office only?

Juan The Pirate · Post by **Juan The Pirate** » Tue Jan 06, 2004 8:24 pm

To my knowledge it is a closed beta, though I could be wrong. You might want to try to google it!

Deadman · Post by **Deadman** » Tue Jan 06, 2004 9:54 pm

tried before i even posted

Evilmagicpirate · Post by **Evilmagicpirate** » Fri Jan 09, 2004 8:55 am

Check the Apps section @ http://suprnova.org/
Close to 400 meg, good luck getting this over dial-up.. LOL.

Deadman · Post by **Deadman** » Fri Jan 09, 2004 4:14 pm

good thing i dont have dial-up lol.