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WinXP SP2 Sacrifices Compatibility for Security
goldragon writes "TechRepublic is reporting that "Microsoft is pulling out all the stops to improve security. So much so, in fact, that it will cause many problems because SP2 will de-emphasize backward compatibility with legacy systems and code for the sake of security." One small step forward for Microsoft, one giant leap backwards for mankind?"
Aren't all Windows users already sacrificing security for compatibility just by using Windows? Perhaps this is just meant to level the playing field.
I'm sure Microsoft will be releasing an update full of application compatibility fixes shortly after the SP2 release. Even in vanilla XP, you can run applications in Win95/98 compatibility mode. I don't see any reason to change it now.
-- Stu
/. ID under 2,000. I feel old now.
The article indicates that most of the things being broken will be viruses and trojans.
And that the only other major change will be to Finally honor the NX(Non-executable) memory designation, IOW if you want self-modifying code, you can still have it, but you can't place a call to an area that has been marked as Data-only or NX.
Seems to be all good to me...
Food not Bombs is a nice platitude but it breaks down when you notice that the Bombees are usually well fed
It was overrated when Apple told its users, "deal with it." And it's overrated now. If you want backwards compatibility, use a Win2k emulator.
!#@%*)anks for hanging up the phone, dear.
this is a giant step FORWARD. if it can keep my network from being bombarded by all those damned windows viruses it's GOOD no matter what. and i don't even use windows.
i'd say this is the brightest idea microsoft had in the last decade (if they deliver that is)
Does that mean they will finaly ditch program manager? I realy hope there isn't any one still using programs for win 3.1 that still require that. And if so, why are they running it on XP anyway...
Don't believe me, or just feeling nostalgic for windows 3.1, go to run, or a comand promt and execute progman.
It was me, I did it, I moved your cheese
Let's say that you have incompatibility problems with some of your common office applications and the Microsoft solution to this situation is to upgrade your applications.
Now, would you be happy that to get a secure computing platform you have to spend hundreds of dollars/whatever per seat upgrading to the latest version of your commonly used apps? To get a properly working version of Windows XP should you be forced to abandon those applications that work for you?
Microsoft has used incompatibility problems to its own advantage time and time again. Indeed, breaking the compatibility of competitors' applications was one of the company's standard operating procedure for many years. WordPerfect, Lotus 1-2-3, DR-DOS, etc all were victims at one time or another. There was even a little saying that went round Microsoft during the time that one major version of DOS was being developed: "DOS isn't done until Lotus won't run".
When you look at this new story in that context it's hard not to be suspicious of Microsoft's motives and difficult to give them the benefit of the doubt.
"Accept that some days you are the pigeon, and some days you are the statue." - David Brent, Wernham Hogg
Spam zombie/pwned newbie machines will be running dog slow. The owners of said machines will either pay a techie to "fix AOL for them" at which point the techie removes viruses and spyware and installs the latest Windows updates (i.e. SP2) or the machines will simply be considered 'broken' by the owners (you'd be suprised how many people think they need to upgrade their hardware because they broke the software by installing crap) at which point Dell/PC World/Emachines will ship them a shiny new box complete with a patched up version of SP2. It might take a year or two, but assuming SP2 is as secure as MS is making out its proliferation will be very good for the internet at large.