XP service pack 2

[Allan1]

Just downloaded and installed the same, question?
Is the Firewall and the antivirus offered by Microsoft any better than Norton?.

Should we take off the ones we use now or stick with them?

Any eggspurts out there got an opinion?

(edit update, just run Spybot since installing SP 2 and found Windows media player has a file in it that sends back to MS, soon fixed that fooker.)

Buzz

 

[skippy]

Just downloaded and installed the same, question?
Is the Firewall and the antivirus offered by Microsoft any better than Norton?.

Should we take off the ones we use now or stick with them?

Any eggspurts out there got an opinion
Buzz

Most anything is better than Norton IMHO

The SP2 Firewall is basic but robust enough to keep most of the cretins out there at bay, there is no antivirus facility in windows or SP2 so a third party Anti virus is a must.

I was using AVG anti virus but SP2 has broken it so I will have to find something else.

 

[Artemis]

My tame expert from Wales has advised me not to install it in our works computers as it's the usual MS thing, released before all the bugs are out of it. :dunno:

 

[skippy]

My tame expert from Wales has advised me not to install it in our works computers as it's the usual MS thing, released before all the bugs are out of it. :dunno:

The biggest problem this time is not the Microsoft bugs but the bugs in all your other software particulary anything that uses the internet or networks, if it is poorly coded chances are SP2 will break it. Bit of a change Microsoft being hit by buggy third party software

 

[john o keeffe]

have 2 anti-virus programmes on my machine
1/Norton which I paid for - failed to pick up 2 infections recently
2/ Avast-free & much better than Norton
go to Avast.com - downloads -and follow instructions
totally free for home users but must register after 60 days

 

[birdinflight]

I have just had a new

motherboard put on my computer, due to a fault. As its insured via a computer insurance policy, I got the engineer to upgrade the board and memory.

He had to reinstall xp due to a problem, and in the process downloaded the new service pack. I always had problems with xp firewall before and have used zonealarm. However, it is rather hungry on memory and so far I since the upgrade I have been using the xp firewall without problem. I use norton for virus protection and have never had problems with it. the lastest version that is 2004.

 

[minesaredun]

I would'nt bother downloading SP2 I think it is going to cause more problems then it will solve. By all accounts some programmes are going to have a hard time working with it that's if you can load it in the first place.
I use Norton Internet Security and AVG6 which is a free download, better then Norton at detecting viruses. Another free download I use is Spybot which searches for any spyware on your comp.

 

[DB on CBR1100XX]

The XP firewall...........

.............ain't brilliant. It's very basic. There's no outgoing control, I believe, only incoming which is a bit of a blow if you get a trojan onto your system ! Also, I don't think you can map ports - ie. you can't allow specific ports to listen or transmit which causes probs with AIM and Messenger: you want to allow these apps access but on specific ports to tie em down a bit. ZoneAlarm is much better and free ! If there is an issue with this and SP2, you can be sure this will be fixed ASAP by Zone.

AVG antivirus, as previously mentioned, is a very good free antivirus. For a quick check for the most common and troublesome viri - try looking for 'stinger.exe' from www.nai.com [McAfee's Enterprise site] - it's a standlone, downloadable antivirus utility that scans for and removes these bastids.

If, in XP, you're using Stinger to remove viri or doing it manually - remember to turn off system restore and boot into safe mode before removing, else everything you get rid of will be re-installed when you boot into normal mode !