Students returning to campus are protecting their Windows XP systems against viruses with Microsoft's new megapatch, Service Pack 2. So far, the update is being installed with little risk or inconvenience, despite fears nationwide that the update could wreak havoc on campus networks.
Director of Personal Technology Services Kara Kelley said the Windows SP2 provides stronger, proactive security for Windows XP systems.
"In addition to the updates and patches which usually comprise a service pack, SP2 includes new security features," she said.
The update creates stronger default security settings for Windows XP, increases manageability and control of security resources and provides an improved user experience through driver updates and support for new technologies, including wireless technologies Wi-Fi and BlueTooth, Kelley said.
Kelley said the update is crucial for Windows XP users and that most XP users are generally aware of SP2's availability and importance.
Stephanie Chu '06 said she had already installed SP2 since arriving on campus. She was notified of the package by a Windows Update pop-up on her desktop. Chu said the download and installation had gone without a hitch. She had yet to notice any changes in her system since completing the update.
Kelley said even those users who are not as informed about SP2 may have inadvertently benefited from the package. Student machines running Computer Information Services' Windows Update Configuration Tool have already had the update automatically downloaded and installed to their system.
With the update's release came fears that the volume of students simultaneously downloading the package would crash university networks. But Kelley said Brown did not anticipate any such problems. Student and faculty machines configured to automatically download and install the updates are doing so in small, incremental downloads. Moreover, Internet2, a faster network being used by hundreds of schools across the country, has arranged to offload much of the SP2 traffic from the University's commodity Internet onto its Abilene network. Finally, Kelley said that based on the maximum size of the download and the estimated number of XP users on campus, the Brown network should not be affected.
Kelley said that while the CIS Help Desk had received a handful of calls from faculty and staff regarding SP2, it had not yet encountered any calls from students, though Kelley said, "I expect that could change at any moment."
In anticipation of any problems students may encounter installing the update, the CIS has created a Web site with a five-minute training video on the new features of SP2. This service supplements the over-the-phone service offered by the CIS Help Desk.
In addition, DormStorm, teams of students trained to help incoming students connect to the Brown network and download and install anti-virus software provided by Brown, dealt with the few SP2-related problems that arose as first-years settled into their rooms.
Herald staff writer Danielle Cerny '06 edits the Campus Watch section. She can be reached at herald@browndailyherald.com.
