Security in Windows XP SP3

There is a fact that not all organizations upgrade to Windows Vista. With Windows XP (the first version released in 2001 and still being sold), Microsoft has just released a service pack 3 (SP3), this latest release may be the final version of the system. this operator.

Download SP3 from Microsoft .

How important is WXP SP3 to organizations using Windows XP and how will it affect operating system upgrades?

What is SP3 for? Microsoft's goal is not to turn the situation around with SP3 and release it more like SP1 than SP2 with some sensitive feature changes. The goal is to make the operating system more stable, efficient, and integrated. This is because with a facility already installed on billions of users worldwide, this upgrade will affect a wide range of users.

The future of XP: Microsoft plans to cut the mainstream support of this product in 2009 and cut its support in 2014, but Microsoft still includes some of the features of Windows Vista into Windows. XP SP3. Let's take a closer look at these changes.

What's inside XPSP3?

1. Improved stability : These updates increase the stability and availability of the operating system and reliability.
2. Improved performance : Improve XP's performance and enhance collaboration and hardware compatibility.
3. Improved security : This release has pre-existing security updates and new updates.
4. Additional components : This release includes several releases that Microsoft has developed such as MMC 3.0 and core XML services 6.0.
5. Minor Features: NAP-like features have been added so that customers can take advantage of the advantages of Windows 2008 server. Support for WPA2 is also included as a separate download.

Microsoft launched Windows XP Service Pack 3 as a de facto standard for users running Windows XP. Service Pack 3 will be a final upgrade for customers who still use Windows XP. Microsoft did not merge the latest version of IE into this service pack. If IE7 or IE6 is detected during the installation, the security patches will be updated in accordance with the current version.

Security components of SP3

Some of the new features included in Windows XP SP3 are:

• Compatibility of Network Access Protection (NAP) . As mentioned above, this feature allows Windows XP computers to take precedence as NAP features in Windows Server 2008. This is similar to Windows Vista. This is a great advantage, it is a component that allows users to better protect their network by assessing the health status of the connected system, such as antivirus level and level. patch of the corresponding environment. If at some point when connecting, the computer meets the prerequisite policy component, it will be allowed to access the network and if that policy is not enforced enough, the computer will be isolated from network segment, it is similar to limited resources. This restricted access allows the computer to be updated to an acceptable temporary level before resuming the scan and being allowed to access the production network.

From the perspective of remote access, this feature is very useful when users are mobile, meaning they will connect to any network or computer when outside the office, this property can be somewhat called ' temp. However, because of such "junk", it is also easy to expose and may be compromised by exploiting or malicious software that may even enter through the virus prevention mechanism. It may also be at risk of compromising and allowing unauthorized access or malicious software to spread when users connect remotely. The isolation option will scan and verify that the computer is protected and set at an acceptable level before allowing access in the remote environment. This is also a long-awaited feature and is welcomed by many people.

• Installation options without product code : As Windows Vista, XP SP3 installation can proceed without entering the product code during the installation process. And you must enter the operating system product key when the deadline is nearly 30 days like Windows Vista.

• Kernel Mode Encryption Module . This feature is a kernel module, and is used to enhance the way XP manages encryption requirements in the application layer. Better encryption, stronger protection as long as the keys are secure. Many people have been looking forward to this feature and it is also a very interesting feature for organizations or firms.

• Router detection algorithm for black holes . This feature allows XP clients to recognize routers that misplace the packet. It is a feature also available in Windows Vista.

• Simple policy upgrade : A welcome feature, this feature will help make things easier when it comes to the mysterious or cryptic problem of XP IPSec; Create and maintain IPSec filters. The simplification of this feature also makes it much easier to deploy IPSec for domains and network communications.

• Digital identity management service (DIMS) : This feature allows users who have logged into any computer in the domain to be able to access smoothly with their own certificates and keys for applications and services.

• Wi-Fi Protected Access 2 (WPA2) : This feature adds support for WPA2, or IEEE 802.11i standard. Many security features for wireless communication have added what XP lacks in previous versions. With this security context, this is a big change worth welcome.

1,073 patches are part of this upgrade. These updates have made Windows XP the latest version with all the hardware support and software upgrades not included in Windows update. A general question is: do I need to install SP1 or SP2 before installing SP3? The answer is no, SP3 is similar to SP1 and SP2 and you can install it independently.

Efficiency

After installation, you can see performance on laptops can be improved by up to 16%. The figures shown in industry may be up to 25% but this still needs to be redefined. The official number is approximately 10%.

Conclude

Windows XP will not disappear in a day or two. It has become a fairly solid platform and is used by many organizations around the world. Windows XP SP3 is considered a product that can create new boundaries for organizations and users who are still deploying and running Windows XP. If you're considering adding new features like NAP, XP SP3 is your choice. This upgrade will extend the life of Windows XP and additional features will make this version worth installing.