I wouldn’t count on it. XP SP 2 support has expired. Like I said, XP SP3 has been out for over two years. There has been plenty of time to upgrade to it.

There may have been some confusion on XP SP 2 support:

“In Microsoft’s August 2010 OOB Security Bulletin Release webcast today, they said that the support for XP SP2 was a typo and it is going to be corrected on the website.”

From comment at ISC SANS:
http://isc.sans.edu/diary.html?storyid=9313

Like or Dislike: 0  0

Patch for Critical Windows Flaw Available
http://krebsonsecurity.com/2010/08/patch-for-critical-windows-flaw-available/

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/Bulletin/MS10-046.mspx

I’ve patched two personal systems, no issues to speak of. Time will tell, but so far, no problems on the radar from the patch.

Like or Dislike: 0  0

http://www.infoworld.com/d/security-central/g-data-releases-tool-block-windows-shortcut-attacks-841

On my Windows XP Pro laptop, the Sophos solution conflicted with the Comodo Firewall’s Security Policies, causing a Blue Screen of Death, so I had to settle for the G-Data solution there. On my Wiondows 7 Home Premium 64-bit laptop, there are no Security Policies or Group Policies, and there the Sophos solution is working just fine.

So be aware that there are temporary fixes which are less severe than the Microsoft Fixit, and that depending on your OS version and installed software, you may have to try a couple of different mitigations before you find on which works and doesn’t break too many other things.

And come Monday, remove all your interim fixes and apply the real patch from Microsoft — and expect the patch to break many things. This is the price we will pay for awhile, since the affected parts of Windows are so fundamental and have such wide-reaching uses inside of Windows.

Like or Dislike: 0  3

XP Service Pack 3 was released over two years ago! I would think that’s plenty of time to evaluate whether or not it can be installed on a system.

Windows XP itself is nine years old! That’s a lifetime in software. It’s surprising that Microsoft even supports it anymore! (Support for Windows 2000 just ended, an even older OS).

Suffice it to say that Microsoft supports some of their software much longer than most would expect. A great part of it is many major businesses still use these older products (we still use Windows XP where I work, a large enterprise). The fact Windows XP (with SP3) will be supported until 2014 speaks to the success and continued use of that OS (some would say it was and is Microsoft’s best OS ever).

Myself, I have NO plans on migrating off Windows XP as it does what I need to the T and I know it like the back of my hand! That and I absolutely hate the new taskbar and other interface re-designs of Windows 7! (I don’t like the road Microsoft is going down with these re-designs that look more and more like OS X, if I wanted that type of OS, I’d buy a Mac!)

See the “Support Lifecycle” section for more info at:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_XP

Well-loved. Like or Dislike: 4  0

I would imagine that XP2 boxes WILL be targeted by this, as well as by many other new exploits to come. It just stands to reason.

Like or Dislike: 4  1

vote me down, windows users, you’re too predictable.”

The truth, I don’t know what is worse, Windows, Windows developers, or Windows users.

Like or Dislike: 0  2

http://volokh.com/2010/07/18/proof-that-other-countries-are-planning-cyberattacks-on-the-power-grid/#comment-883042

Like or Dislike: 3  0