Microsoft is also going after the most-often cited cause of computer attacks, the buffer overrun. Just how it is working to minimize buffer overruns in Win XP SP2, the software maker isn't saying in great detail--except to say that all Windows code changed since the original Windows XP was released has been recompiled using Microsoft's Visual Studio compiler, which the company says, reduces the likelihood of some certain buffer-overrun vulnerabilities.
Said And Done
Enterprises will clearly benefit from the changes that Windows XP Service Pack 2 brings, but it's important to note that SP2 is not aimed primarily at businesses. It's best to think of this service pack as Microsoft's response to the MS Blaster worm. Consumer PC users increasingly have always-on broadband connections, and they're leaving their PCs on. At the same time, they may not be protecting those PCs well enough. Microsoft is taking the bull by the horns to ensure that more and more end-users are protected. Given that worms and Trojans not only infect unprotected PCs, but use them as staging areas to infect other PCs, this is an important step for Microsoft to take.
Nevertheless, there are some concerns for IT professionals. If Windows Firewall causes too many problems, it's possible that Microsoft will decide to minimize it further or even turn it off by default. We wouldn't bet on that last option though. We think fewer IT pros will be troubled by Automatic Updates being turned on by default. Microsoft has done a better job of testing its security patches over the last 18 months. That improvement was key, because it makes it much easier for more and more companies and individuals to simply install every update that comes along--or let Windows do it for you--than most of us would have been comfortable with two or three years ago.
All in all, SP2 is a solid set of improvements. While not earth-shaking, it's a somewhat more ambitious Windows service pack than most, and everything about it is labeled "security." So it's a welcome update as soon as Microsoft straightens out all the kinks.
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