Customers who receive automatic updates from Microsoft will begin getting
Service Pack 2 within a few days, a company spokesman said today. About 100
million customers are expected to receive the automatic updates over the next
two months.
The upgrade is designed to make users safer from cyber attacks by sealing
entries to viruses, better protecting personal data and fending off spyware.
For regular users, the most noticeable change will be a series of new
prompts. Users will be asked to give permission for programs to interact with
their computers, so there is less chance they will be hit by a virus or
inadvertently allow malicious software that can monitor computer activities.
Service Pack 2 should be available on compact disk and at
http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com by the end of the month.
The amount of time it takes for the automatic updates to download will
depend on the speed of the user's connection, on average, it should take
about 60 to 90 minutes for users with a broadband connection to download the
upgrade.
It could take users with a dialup connection a few days, depending on how
much time they spend online.
I suggest patience is a virtue: look for SP2 to come onto PC magazines'
cover CDs and grab one as soon as you can.