Your Daily Computer Security Tips

Vista SP1 is now in general release, and you can get it by using your Windows Update tool or by visiting http://www.microsoft.com/downloads or http://www.windowsvistablog.com

Microsoft says SP1 will improve Vista’s reliability, security and performance. There are some 300 fixes covering a wide array of bugs and problems. Early reviews are mixed as to whether it actually makes the overall user experience any better.

It takes about one hour to download and install the update, so leave yourself plenty of time. Some industry analysts claim not to notice much difference, while others note that Vista seemed faster and less likely to crash, after the update. In fact, Vista may now be about as fast as its predecessor, XP.

Some parts of this service pack have been previously released, as part of the regular monthly updates. To get SP1, your Windows must be up to date. If it is not, you will have to download older updates first.

As expected, the update will break some programs, and cause difficulties with others. Microsoft says this is for “reliability reasons”. Read about that here: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/935796

In many cases, the problem seems to be with the drivers these programs use. Check the manufacturer’s Web site for updates to individual programs and applications.

Syd Tash is a noted computer security consultant and author of How to Protect Your Computer Online. He has been keeping Internet surfers safe and secure since the last century. Find out how he does it; protect your own computer with five layers of protection right here:
= > http://MyPCSecuritySite.com

You may include these Tips in your Web sites and publications provided they remain unchanged and include the above paragraph, with the author’s name and Web site. You can also get a direct URL to this post. Click the title, then copy the URL in the browser address bar.