Automatic updates.
Hardly a day goes by without a new Windows related threat or bug (error) unfolding.
The problem is not limited to Windows operating systems but has roots in its unsound foundations.
As time goes by, newer versions of Windows make big leaps in trying to close security gaps but the way to a relatively secure Windows system is far from sight.
In fact it can be argued that there is no such thing as a fully secure computer system.
One of the main reasons is that for a system to have near perfect security mechanisms that system would have to be closed (none or very limited Internet connectivity, custom software and hardware solutions etc.), rigid and very unfriendly to users.
We, the users, have to accept the fact that security will probably never be perfect as we accept the fact that driving a car, flying in a plane and even taking a bath entails some risks.
But accepting that fact does not mean that you should be complacent, put your guard off and just pray. It’s actually relatively easy to raise the protection levels of your system to a point where the chance of you being the victim of a malicious code attack can be close to nothing.
The thing we have to realize about system security is that a system can only be as secure as its weakest component. Even if your system has many good defenses (Antivirus, Antispyware etc) it is still enough for a small gap in security to take your system down.
Windows auto update is one thing that can make the difference between a relatively secure system and a system waiting to be hacked (broken into).
Windows auto update is a free software service (for Microsoft’s paid customers) that runs on your computer and periodically connects to Microsoft servers through the internet and checks if your system needs to be patched (fixed) or updated.
Every time a new bug (error) or security hole is discovered in Windows, a patch will be released (eventually) by Microsoft to close that hole or to fix that error.
Those patches are distributed through the Windows update mechanism.
Using the auto update mechanism ensures that you will receive those windows updates in a timely manner and will reduce the chances of your computer being the victim of a malicious attack.
Windows update can be configured in Windows 2000/XP/2003 through the control panel.
To do that click Start, click Control Panel, and then double-click Automatic Updates.
In Windows XP you will see the following Window:
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