more info/tips for microsoft XP service pac 2

[Kali]

what do you think of this advice?

Tweak Windows XP SP2 Security to Your Advantage

Fine-tune the settings in Microsoft's recently released Windows XP Service Pack 2.


Scott Dunn
From the October 2004 issue of PC World magazine
Posted Friday, August 27, 2004

Windows XP is a safe and secure operating system. Really, it is--as long as you don't connect it to the Internet. To be fair, other operating systems, including Linux and Mac OS X, are vulnerable to online attacks, too. But Windows gets more attention, and hackers were quick to discover serious flaws in the OS that made possible the Blaster and Sasser worms, along with a legion of other exploits.

Trying to make Windows more secure, Microsoft released Windows XP Service Pack 1 in 2003, and Service Pack 2 recently. Whereas SP1 focused on remedying antitrust violations with bundled Windows utilities, almost all of SP2 is devoted to beefing up Internet security. SP2 doesn't thoroughly shield you from attacks, but it's definitely worth installing for its firewall improvements, Internet Explorer pop-up blocking, and security-configuration changes. Once you've installed it, you'll probably want to tweak some of SP2's new settings, and to know where--tweaked or not--the reinforced OS remains vulnerable.

tips and tweaks at: http://www.pcworld.com/howto/article/0,aid,117422,00.asp

including adding:

Version Tracker: Security Must-Haves

Windows XP may be getting safer with SP2, but it's still a good idea to download and install the latest versions of the following free (and excellent) utilities to plug remaining security gaps.

ZoneAlarm 5: Despite Microsoft's efforts to beef up security in Windows, the operating system's built-in firewall can't block outgoing traffic, including the dastardly activities of worms, backdoor programs, and other menaces to your privacy and online security. Zone Labs' $40 ZoneAlarm Pro recently received a PC World Best Buy, but you don't need to spend a dime to get its essential features. The free version of ZoneAlarm omits Pro's pop-up blocker and e-mail virus filter, but none of its top-notch firewall capabilities.

5.6MB

Spybot Search & Destroy 1.3: Patrick M. Kolla's indispensable tool for detecting and removing spyware and adware is now better than ever. The latest version significantly improves Spybot's real-time spyware scanner, blocks unsafe downloads in Internet Explorer, and preserves Windows system settings from spyware and adware attacks.

4.15MB

[Nlighten1]

1. Zone Alarm is great.

But there are also a whole bunch of other firewall packages out there. I personally like Blink the best.

[schyzo-nas]

2. Zone Alarm is not so great...

... it crashed and blocked my connection regularly.
I use the Sygate Personal Firewall and it works perfectly.

[Catch22Dem]

3. Get a hardware firewall

Software firewalls aren't worth much when it comes to protecting your computer.