Microsoft to stop security updates for Windows XP Service Pack 2

If you are a Windows XP user and not yet on Windows XP SP3, this might be a good time to plan to install it. I have it on my machines and recommended here some time ago that it was a safe upgrade. Jot me a line if you have any questions.

Microsoft to stop security updates for Windows XP Service Pack 2

For those of you who are planning to stay with Windows XP until 2014, as we have discussed, this is just the next logical step for you. Get to SP3 and keep it updated.

New findings update WS Security Baseline

I am very happy to see this report in Windows Secrets. This further strengthens my opinion that the security suite I am recommending by Microsoft, and it is FREE at that, is up there among the best. It is a near-silent partner, it has lower overhead than the others IMHO (In My Humble Opinion). Believe me when I say that it works. Also, consider that it comes from the author of your Windows operating system, so who should know most about the inner workings and interactions with the bad guys trying to get in than Microsoft? Again, IMHO, no one else. If your corporation uses one of the fee-based systems, that's their business. If you use one of the fee-based systems, I'd have to ask you WHY?

Below I have included an abstract, but you can review the whole article here:

New findings update WS Security Baseline

"For PC users seeking a security suite that delivers good protection with minimal fuss, the three commercial suites listed below are best. These packages are for average PC users who do not feel comfortable delving into a suite's sometimes-complex controls. Everything you need to know is displayed in a simple window, including whether or not you've received the latest product update. If that simplicity does not appeal to you, skip down to the intermediate or advanced lists below.

Our top three — Norton, Kaspersky, and Microsoft — each showed the most innovation in their 2010 offerings, with the first two sandboxing Web applications. All three scan only those files that have changed since the previous scan (as opposed to scanning the entire hard drive every time).

Symantec's Norton Internet Security 2010: Symantec's suite, probably more so than any other AV software, has taken hard knocks for slowing down PCs. This time around, however, CNET, PCWorld, and PCMag.com all noted that the suite's impact on PC performance is much improved. That and the software's ability to block new threats earned it top scores from all three publications.

Using test data from AV-test.org, PCWorld's review noted Norton's superior virus behavior analysis, which helps stop new malware not yet catalogued by the AV vendors.

Kaspersky Internet Security 2010: PCMag and PCWorld both thought Kaspersky's strength was its easy-to-use interface. A new "Safe Run" feature also lets you test new software by installing and running it in an isolated sandbox environment prior to installing it for real. However, both PCWorld and PCMag reported middling overall performance results.

Microsoft Security Essentials: Given Microsoft's tepid efforts at anti-malware software in the past, its free MSE security suite has received surprisingly good reviews. Windows Secrets Patch Watch columnist Susan Bradley recommends MSE for average PC users, and senior editor Fred Langa wrote a lengthy and generally positive review in his May 6 Top Story.

There is little in the way of recent independent lab testing of MSE. One of the most recent is AV-Comparatives.org's February 2010 PDF-based report, in which MSE was given high marks for malware detection and scan times. In particular, MSE scored very few false positives compared with Trend Micro, Panda, and McAfee.

What about the other household-name AV products? This year McAfee got tepid reviews and took a huge hit when it inadvertently sent out a bad virus update. CA, Panda, and Trend Micro also received mediocre scores."

There is much more information contained in this article. Use the link above to see it all.

Sudoku

Are you a Sudoku fan? Have you ever tried it? I have a hardcopy paperback book full of easy Sudoku puzzles, and have a hard time with that, but I find it much easier to do these puzzles online. I have made great progress from one who was about to give up in doing these puzzles to one who is really enjoying them. I am enjoying them because I am successful at doing them - online. No pencil and eraser is needed. Give it a try if you have not had much success with the hard copy puzzles. And the price is right - FREE!

Web Sudoku

New feature of Google Maps

It's called "Distance Measurement Tool" , and enabled me to map out the walk I took this morning. Notice, in addition to the route, the calculated distance of the walk. Pretty impressive and something I will use to map out my walks wherever I happen to be. You can click on the small image below to view a larger one.