July 6, 2005 12:58 PM PDT

XP owners shunning security update

Mario Juarez, product manager of security at Microsoft, said Tuesday at Microsoft's TechEd conference in Amsterdam that only one in three people using Windows XP in the United States has downloaded Service Pack 2, which tightens security on the operating system. "We know that the percentage of people using Windows XP SP 2 is lower than we would like it to be," Juarez said. "One in three machines that run Windows XP is running SP 2. Customers are still reluctant to upgrade."

In general, however, people are being more vigilant about online threats, Detlef Eckert, chief security advisor at Microsoft, said. He also noted that attacks are becoming more targeted and are motivated by financial gain.

Dan Ilett of Silicon.com reported from London. For the full story, click here.

7 comments

Join the conversation!
Add your comment (Log in or register)
SP 2
It might have to do with the fact that SP 2 seams to break 2 out of 3 computers that are already running Windows XP. However, I would suggest only applying SP 2 on systems that are fresh installs or you know are very clean systems. If you have been running Windows XP for awhile you might want to consider upgrading only after making a good backup and be prepared for the worst and ready to reinstall Windows if it fails.
Posted by System Tyrant (1453 comments )
Reply Link Flag
It's Simple
Because 2/3 of people are using pirated Windows XP, they can't even try to install SP2 unless they crack the serial number :)
Posted by 201293546946733175101343322673 (722 comments )
Reply Link Flag
Duh...
What happened to making it available on CD's at places that already offer free Earthlink and AOL CD's?

I had to fight my way upstream to get SP2 as soon as it was released but if I remember correctly (it's been awhile, so I might be wrong), but wasn't it something like a 67 terrabyte download or something? It seems like I remember it starting the download on my DSL in the evening and it still going the next morning while I left for work.

I haven't had any problems as a result, but then I was also hoping it would make my computer cooler, but I didn't see anything wow-ified about the upgrade.
Posted by TV James (681 comments )
Reply Link Flag
XP breaks too many applications
Windows XP SP2 breaks Symantec Anti-virus 2003. It is ironic that it halts automatic updates of virus definitions. That's why I don't have it on my PC.
Posted by djysrv (14 comments )
Reply Link Flag
RE: XP breaks too many applications
Symantec or Norton has been broken for years! Norton products were started breaking after Peter Norton left or after Symantec took over.
Posted by ledzep75 (53 comments )
Link Flag
SP2 is GREAT!
I have had no problems at all with WindowsXP w/ SP2 infact I beged to get it on my computer after I removed it.

right after you install SP2 you notice right away that the system has gotten stronger. When I removed SP2 the first thing that had was that I had popup windows coming and since I got it reinstalled no more of those Windows Alert ad windows or IE popups.

Microsoft even tho few people are upgrading to SP2 (or not as many as you like) SP2 is almost like getting a brand new OS.
Posted by William002 (13 comments )
Reply Link Flag
If you've disabled IE and OE....
... then SP2 is a waste of time, and a potential source of many
problems. I did install SP2, but I've also disabled IE and OE, and so
far, SP2 hasn't caused any troubles. But I can't say that I've seen any
evidence that SP2 has done anything good either. My personal
feeling is that SP2 was not worth the effort to install it. And I'm niot
too sure that XP was worth the effort to install it either. Win2K was
a darn good OS.
Posted by Earl Benser (4342 comments )
Reply Link Flag
 

Join the conversation

Add your comment

The posting of advertisements, profanity, or personal attacks is prohibited. Click here to review our Terms of Use.

Inside CNET News

1-2 of 12

Scroll Left Scroll Right

RSS Feeds

Add headlines from CNET News to your homepage or feedreader.

Markets

Market news, charts, SEC filings, and more

Related quotes

Microsoft (0.28%) 0.08 30.58
Dow Jones Industrials (0.57%) 72.81 12,874.04
S&P 500 (0.68%) 9.13 1,351.77
NASDAQ (0.95%) 27.51 2,931.39
CNET TECH (0.84%) 17.13 2,049.14
  Symbol Lookup