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Summary: Windows "Security Center" is an attempt to raise awareness about security issues while making it a bit easier to deal with.
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What's this new 'Security Center' thing in XP service pack 2 all about? |
If you've installed Windows XP Service Pack 2, one of the first things you'll be presented with is the new "Windows Security Center".
What's it all about?
In a nutshell, it's an attempt to raise awareness and put security issues "in your face" while at the same time making it all just a little easier to deal with.
Let's look a little more closely.
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The security center focuses on three important areas related to keeping you computer safe: your firewall, automatic Windows updates, and virus protection.
Each of these three areas has a "recommended setting" that is typically the most secure. In most cases, the recommended settings are correct, and if you're unsure, they're the settings to select.
The Windows Firewall is important to enable if you are connected directly to the internet, or are using a portable computer on some public network such as an internet cafe or hotspot. It's safe to disable if you're already behind a firewall, such as a router, and trust all the other computers with you behind that router.
Automatic Updates should typically be enabled in some fashion. I personally prefer to have it automatically download, but then inform me that updates are ready to install so that I can chose when this happens.
You should have some kind of Virus Protection, and the Security Center will alert you if it thinks you don't. While Microsoft does not currently have it's own anti-virus package, the Security Center includes a link to a page where Microsoft lists several partners providing reputable anti-virus solutions.
As I said, the Security Center is intended to raise awareness and make it easier to configure these important components of keeping your computer safe on the internet. For the most part, it's alerting us to issues that we should all be aware of, and dealing with.
I've teamed up with Lockergnome to provide a new video tip each week. View the tip Exploring the Windows XP Security Center and watch as I walk through the various options presented in this new Windows feature.
Related:
Ask Leo! - What's the best Pop-Up Blocker? Anti-Virus Software? Anti-Spyware Software?
Ask Leo! - What's a firewall, and how do I set one up?
Ask Leo! - Do I need a firewall, and if so, what kind?
Article C2154 - August 13, 2004
Actually Leo, Randy is right. I've selected that option too and everytime I restart I get the same crap. I think it has to do with ZoneAlarm. But anyway, I have found a way to disable Security Center and I don't see any harm in doing this because it's just a stupid app that tells computer illiterate people that their comp is not protected.
To disable, click Start/Run. Type msconfig and click ok. Now click the Services tab and search for Security Center (probably near the bottom) and unselect the check box and press ok. At the confirmation box, click Restart and it will be gone for as long as that box is unchecked. :)
And thanks for trying to help Leo. I appreciated it.
Posted by: Joshua at September 1, 2004 12:18 PMYou can disable it another way, too. Right-click on My Computer and click Manage. Expand Services and Applicatoins and click on Services. On the right, find Security Center. Right-click and select Properties. First hit the "Stop" button to stop the service, then in the selection box for "Startup Type" select "Disabled." Then hit "Apply." You shouldn't get any more messages as long as the service is turned off.
Posted by: Kyle at September 3, 2004 4:38 AMHi guys - Symantec confirm that their code prevents Security Center from detecting the status of Norton Antivirus, but that an update will be available soon from LiveUpdate that will sort it out. They don't say exactly when, just 'soon after SP2 is available'. Hope that helps.
Posted by: Richard at September 4, 2004 3:21 AMHowever, nice isn't it that Norton has to release an update so that the Security Center isn't thought of as a virus? Any conspiracy theorists out there...?
Posted by: Richard at September 4, 2004 3:54 AMThanks for the solution Kyle (and Joshua) I restarted a hundred times and the damn thing pops up everytime no matter what options I chose.
I have both Zone Alarm and Norton Antivirus but I think it had more to do with Zone Alarm since it was only the firewall annoyance that kept coming up.
Posted by: Bryan at September 8, 2004 5:25 PMI think that update from Symantec is already out. If it's the WMI update thing, I've already had it and it didn't stop the annoyances.
Posted by: Joshua at September 9, 2004 4:16 PMit also blocks codecs from being dled from microsofts codec site which makes media player all that useless
Posted by: drew at September 11, 2004 4:07 PM@drew
instead of media player try JetAudio (plus)
http://jeraudio.com
:)
Posted by: Chastity Benefits at September 15, 2004 5:35 AMGo to http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=883792
It explains how to use the "Change the way security center alerts me" to stop the annoying pop up.
Mark
Posted by: Mark at September 25, 2004 6:55 AMI had the same firewall alert annoyance ever since I installed SP2. and that is despite the fact that I checked the "I have a firewall solution that I'll monitor myself" tab under recommendations. I don't have zonelaram or any other firewall program installed on my computer.
Posted by: Doron at November 10, 2004 5:02 PMI wonder what makes this stupid bug occur.
thanks guys for the tips on how to disable that ridiculous security center.