NetFlash: Windows users put on defensive by SP2

It’s good to be back after a week’s vacation – props to Michael Cooney and Sheryl Hodge for ably filling in for me in my absence. This week we lead with what for many users may be a service pack crisis. Microsoft has always tended to side with ease of use over security – but now, as security rises in importance at the software company, you get two worlds colliding. Prime example is Microsoft’s rollout of Windows XP Service Pack 2, scheduled for this week. The company has decided to distribute the service pack via its Automatic Update feature. But many corporate users see that as too much, distributed too fast and too easily. After all, this is a major upgrade, one that could end up breaking some corporate applications. Here’s how to put on the brakes. Windows users put on defensive by SP2 http://www.nwfusion.com/news/2004/081604xpsp.html?net

It’s good to be back after a week’s vacation – props to Michael Cooney and Sheryl Hodge for ably filling in for me in my absence. This week we lead with what for many users may be a service pack crisis. Microsoft has always tended to side with ease of use over security – but now, as security rises in importance at the software company, you get two worlds colliding. Prime example is Microsoft’s rollout of Windows XP Service Pack 2, scheduled for this week. The company has decided to distribute the service pack via its Automatic Update feature. But many corporate users see that as too much, distributed too fast and too easily. After all, this is a major upgrade, one that could end up breaking some corporate applications. Here’s how to put on the brakes.

Windows users put on defensive by SP2

https://www.nwfusion.com/news/2004/081604xpsp.html?net

On the lookout for spyware

It used to be that spyware targeted home PC users, but now the spies are infiltrating the corporate world as well. Described by one IT manager as “an insidious scourge of the Internet,” spyware demands that corporations defend themselves.

https://www.nwfusion.com/news/2004/081604spyware.html?net

McAfee upgrades security management software

McAfee next week plans to ship an updated version of its anti-virus management product, ePolicy Orchestrator, that adds capabilities such as intrusion-prevention management and rogue-computer detection.

https://www.nwfusion.com/news/2004/081604epo.html?net

Utility company powers up savings

A Canadian power company is saving about $500,000 using laptops and PDAs, with some third-party mobile applications, for 400 field workers.

https://www.nwfusion.com/news/2004/081604hydroone.html?net

Today on Layer 8 – swifter, higher, snarkier:

One cool Web cam; inside “Office Space”; and the winner of our latest Weekly Caption Contest; all this today and more at your home for not-just-networking news.

https://www.nwfusion.com/weblogs/layer8/?net