Service Pack 2 for Windows XP will block pop-ups in
Internet Explorer, Microsoft announced yesterday.
The beta version of the Windows XP update released last December
last year always included a pop-up blocker, but the feature was
turned off by default. Starting with the latest test version of
Service Pack 2 (SP2), called Release Candidate 1 (RC1), pop-up
blocking will be activated by default.
Microsoft made RC1 of Windows XP SP2 available to beta-testers
on Wednesday and will make it more broadly available through a
technical preview programme tomorrow. The company will take in
feedback and is planning a Release Candidate 2 version before final
release of the service pack during the first half of the year, said
Greg Sullivan, lead product manager for Windows at Microsoft.
Windows XP SP2 is more than the usual roll-up of bug fixes and
updates. It is also being used to make significant changes to the
software that are designed to improve security. Changes to Windows
XP made by SP2 fall into four main areas: network protection,
memory protection, e-mail security and browsing security.
RC1 of Windows XP SP2 will be available publicly through a
technical preview programme. However, RC1 is still a test version
and it is meant for IT professionals so they can do compatibility
and regression testing and give Microsoft feedback.
Pop-up blocking is switched on because customers requested it.
Users will be able to decide which sites they want to see pop-ups
from by adding those to a safe sites list. Pop-ups from intranet
sites and applications using Internet Explorer's local intranet
zone will not be blocked, so as not to interfere with corporate
applications.
Other features new in RC1 of Windows XP SP2 include the Windows
Security Center, a central place for Windows XP users to check
important security settings, and access to a new version of the
Windows Update service for security patches and other updates.
The new Windows Update Service, version 5, offers an interface
designed to make it easier for users to decide which updates they
want to download and install automatically. The service also
supports technology to make downloads smaller by only offering only
relevant bits of code that need updating,.
The Windows XP SP2 RC1 technical preview programme is expected
to be online on Friday at
http://www.microsoft.com/sp2preview/.
Joris Evers writes for IDG News
Service