| XP SP2 |
Service Pack 2 for XP addresses many issues.
First of these was the lack of a built-in Firewall.
This firewall is very easy to use and blocks both incoming and outgoing traffic.
You can tell it to alert you or not for programs that wish to use a network connection.
Here are some of the new screens you will see after installing SP2:
|
 |
Notice the new icons in the Control Panel
|
 |
Wireless network setup is made easier now with a Wizard.
|
 |
Windows now allows for WPA and WEP encryption for devices that support it.
|
 |
You can save your Network configs to a thumb drive.
|
 |
| |
 |
This feature lets you configure all the Access Points and Wireless Clients (SP2)
|
 |
The new XP Firewall settings window.
- On with Exceptions
- On with NO Exceptions
- OFF
|
 |
The exceptions window.
This is where you can allow your application's TCP/IP Ports through.
Also, note the Firewall pop-up notification check box.
|
 |
This config screen allows you to select which Networking interfaces the firewall manages.
Logging firewall hits is a good idea if you want to know what traffic is being blocked.
PINGs can be filtered here as well.
|
 |
Adding a TCP/IP firewall exception.
|
 |
Logging Options Screen.
|
 |
Ping Filtering options.
|
 |
The new Automatic Updates screen, which is easier to find.
It now has its own icon in the Control Panel.
|
 |
The new Windows Security Center allows easier access to Firewall, Anti-Virus and Browser settings.
|
 |
| A new Popup blocker is built-in to Internet Explorer |
 |
The blocked popups information bar appears under the Address toolbar.
This screen allows popup exceptions when set on BLOCK ALL.
|
 |
Browser Add-ons or Browser Helper Objects (BHOs) are loaded so you can view proprietary content
such as an Adobe Acrobat files without having to switch to a new window. Spyware is also known to install itself as a BHO,
so this feature is a much welcome addition to Internet Explorer.
|
 |
Turn off BHOs that you dont need.
Also allows internet updates for those BHOs that support it.
|
 |
DEP will not be supported until Intel and AMD release CPUs that support this.
|
 |
Internet Explorer's new warning dialog prompts you when you download executable programs.
|
|
When you dbl-click on an executable program or Installer package.
|
|
XPs new Wireless Wizard. Easier WiFi setup.
|
