Microsoft® Windows® XP Networking and Security Inside Out: Also Covers Windows 2000

Security Alert Services

In this book, we offer plenty of specific information about steps you can take to secure your computer. But we don't provide the level of detail that would, for example, suggest that you install the Internet Explorer patch described in Microsoft Security Bulletin MS04-005. Such information would be obsolete even before this book is printed. Finding out about—and responding to—newly discovered security vulnerabilities is an ongoing task.

Fortunately, you can rely on several services to keep you informed. The Automatic Updates feature advises you of Windows updates available from Microsoft. A number of other tools and services can alert you to additional security issues.

Receiving Alerts Through Instant Messaging

With Windows ...