XP Service Pack Highlights Security Dilemma

The second service pack for Windows XP will implement more significant changes than usually appear in a service pack. These changes are designed to bring Windows XP in line with the Trustworthy Computing “Secure by Design, Default, and Deployment” framework which has led to significant changes in Microsoft’s product development process, and to noticeable improvements in recent products such as Windows Server 2003. But the service pack poses a dilemma for Microsoft and users: the changes that will increase the security of XP may break some applications.

Expanded SP Goal Causes Dilemma

The goal of Windows XP Service Pack (SP) 2 is to improve the security and reliability of the OS—the service pack will patch the growing number of security vulnerabilities unearthed since Windows XP SP1 (released in Aug. 2002). To reduce the security risks caused by these vulnerabilities to all users of Windows, Microsoft needs SP2 to achieve widespread and rapid adoption. Because these patches have been well-tested, users should not have to perform extensive testing on this part of the service pack.