Hunt for XP SP2 flaws seen in full swing

While users are testing Service Pack 2 (SP2) for Windows XP to prevent compatibility problems, hackers are picking apart the security-focused software update looking for vulnerabilities, security experts said. While users are testing Service Pack 2 (SP2) for Windows XP to prevent compatibility problems, hackers are picking apart the security-focused software update looking for vulnerabilities, security experts said. "We will see new vulnerabilities discovered in SP2 over the next few weeks. Give it a month or two and we will also see worms that affect SP2," said Thor Larholm, senior security researcher at PivX Solutions LLC, a security services company in Newport Beach, California.

Service Pack 2 represents real progress for Microsoft Corp. and underscores its commitment to security, according to industry observers. The update provides protection against most security exploits known today. For example, the improved and automatically enabled Windows Firewall would block attacks such as the Blaster worm that crippled the Internet a year ago.