The Service Pack Shuffle

Plugging in...

Keeping current is the rage. Change is good. Change drives us crazy. But in order to keep safe and secure while working on a computer, one must "keep up" with the free Service Packs. They include BIG changes to Windows, the software that manages your personal computer. (The MAC has a manager, too, referred to as OS, followed by numbers. They have patches and upgrades as well.)

A recent client was infected with a piece of malware (software that kept falsely announcing in annoying POP UP windows the computer had myriad infections; it wouldn't let the owner use the computer). The Tutor whisked away the infection (how? trade secret!) and decided to add another layer of protection, a free Firewall called Zone Alarm. After downloading Zone Alarm, the Zone Alarm program notified the Tutor via a pop up that their product required SP1 on Windows Vista in order to run. The Tutor quickly checked what version of Windows the computer was running and found that it was missing both SP1 and SP2, released in 2008, and 2009. And... most importantly, THIS was why the pesky malware found a way inside the computer. Sort of like the rains the North East was pummeled with - protection is key to fending off the elements, nature or man-made.

Windows XP users must be running Service Pack 3.
Windows Vista users must be running Service Pack 2.

To find out your version of Windows, RIGHT click on the My Computer icon. Left click on Properties. Read the information under System. If you have a Service Pack, it will say SP1, 2 or 3. If you are missing any of the Service Packs, use your favorite search engine and search for:

"Download SP1" +Vista (or whichever one your computer requires).
"Download SP3" +XP (or whichever one your computer requires).

ALWAYS REMEMBER: before calling for help - is it plugged in, is it UP TO DATE with patches and Service Packs, and is it turned on?

Unplugged