Which is the evilest thing of all

[purplerabbits]

Is there a consensus yet on whether XP users should download Service Pack 2? And has anyone tried it yet? I am running Zone Alarm, AVG and AdAware and I don't use Internet Explorer...

Comments

[wechsler.livejournal.com]

I gave up and installed it on the basis that I don't use the apps known to have issues, and that I'd never be able to download another security patch again if I didn't.

[purplerabbits.livejournal.com]

Do you know which apps have issues?

[wechsler.livejournal.com]

MS admits to: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?kbid=884130
See also: http://isc.sans.org/xpsp2.php?startmsg=1231

[drdoug.livejournal.com]

I decided "Oh, what the hell" the other night (for similar reasons to wechsler) but then remembered it was 75Mb+ and I only have dialup at home atm. It can wait until I've moved and got broadband.

[barakta]

A good friend has just reinstalled WindowsXP from scratch to avoid SP2 because it broke so much of his stuff, mainly firewall/network and game tho.

Natalya

[thekumquat.livejournal.com]

I think I'll wait until we've finished playing Broken Sword III, and then install it. Our server should protect me in the meantime.

Meanwhile at work I'm getting emails from people I've never emailed saying that I've emailed them a virus. [shrug]

[wechsler.livejournal.com]

Plenty of email viruses forge the "from" address. You'd think people would realise this by now.

[thekumquat.livejournal.com]

Equally, I could have scads of viruses. We're talking about a machine running Windows + IE, on a tied line, with IT bods all being contracted out, some of whom don't know the difference between a file and a program, and others who don't know enough English to understand sentences like "I need the software installed for my special mouse".

To be fair, some of them are very good. I hope they're the ones hiding in Guildford building firewalls.

[biog.livejournal.com]

Downloaded & installed service pack 2 last night. I think most of the updates are security 'under the bonnet' things, but I'd leave yourself a full morning/afternoon/evening for it as it takes a while to install even once you've waited patiently to download it, then allowed time for the download itself to take place (on broadband by the way).
There's a new 'security centre' thingy on the control panel part which seems fine & a tighter XP firewall.

[neferet.livejournal.com]

Well, I for one am gonna avoid using it. It won't support semagic, it looks like it won't support my diary system, or AVG, or my file-sharing programmes.
Call me paranoid/skeptical, but I am wondering if Microsoft wrote the service pack 2 this way on purpose....