Story Author: Mike Maroulis
Publish Date: Not Available
Source Publication: TechBuzz Report

Early in August, Microsoft released Windows XP Service Pack 2. For security reasons it is recommended that if you have not yet upgraded that you do soon. SP 2 contains all previous security updates and some new features such as a built in pop-up blocker, advanced firewall options and a new version of Windows Update. Below are the top 10 reasons to install SP 2 from Microsoft.

Help protect your PC from harmful attachments- By alerting you to potentially unsafe attachments, SP 2 helps guard your computer from viruses that can spread through IE, Outlook Express, and Windows Messenger.

Improve your privacy on the web– SP 2 helps protect your private information by applying the security settings that guard your PC to the files and content downloaded using IE.

Avoid potentially unsafe downloads– IE download monitoring and the IE Information Bar warn you about potentially harmful downloads and give you the option to block files that may be malicious.

Reduce annoying pop-ups– IE Pop-Up Blocker makes browsing the web more enjoyable by helping you reduce the unwanted ads and content that pop up when you’re browsing.

Get firewall protection from start to finish– The powerful, built in Windows Firewall is now turned on by default. This helps protect Windows CP against viruses and worms that can spread over the Internet.

Take control of your security settings– The new Windows Security Center allows you to easily view your security status and manage key security settings in one convenient place.

Get the latest updates easily– Enhancements to Windows XP’s Automatic Updates feature make it even easier to access Windows Update. Plus, new technology has been added to help dial-up customers download updates more efficiently.

Help protect your e-mail– Improvements to Outlook Express help reduce unwanted e-mail by limiting the possibility of your e-mail address being validated by potential spammers.

Take action against crashes caused by browser add-ons– The new Add-On Manager in IE lets you easily view and control add-ons to reduce the potential fro crashes and enjoy a more trouble-free browsing experience.

Go wireless without the hassle– SP 2 improves wireless support and simplifies the process of discovering and connecting to wireless networks in your home or on the road.

Some other features included in SP 2 are improved Bluetooth support, letting you easily connect to the latest Bluetooth devices such as keyboards, cell phones, and PDAs. Windows Media Player 9 also comes with more security features and support for broadband content.

For more information visit www.microsoft.com