Your Daily Computer Security Tips

Reports are appearing around the Internet that Windows XP Service Pack 3 is causing false positives from various security applications. Anti-spyware and anti-virus programs are turning up keyloggers, trojans, etc. on systems updated with SP3, where in fact no malware exists.

Spyware Doctor from PC Tools is one of the problem anti-malware programs. A patch is supposedly in the works. Norton Internet Security from Symantec is another. Norton seems to identify the Microsoft system file ctfmon.exe as a keylogger.

Actually, ctfmon.exe is a program that allows input methods such as the on-screen keyboard or speech. A keylogger is a malicious program that captures your every keystroke, as well as other data, and sends it all to a hacker over your Internet connection. Norton users are advised to just ignore the false alerts.

It is claimed that most problems with SP3 can be avoided if you follow this simple procedure:

Set your computer to download the Service Pack 3 without installing it;

Restart your computer and go into Safe Mode;

Install SP3 from Safe Mode.

Even so, I have not installed SP3 on my computers. I intend to wait a few more weeks, and you would be wise to do the same. Just be sure your Windows is otherwise up to date.

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

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