As Microsoft announced in 2008, support for Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2) will end on July 13, 2010. Support for Windows 2000 will end on the same date. Customers running an unsupported version of Windows or Windows service pack will not be eligible for any Microsoft support options. Updates, including security updates released with bulletins from the Microsoft Security Response Center, will be reviewed and built for the supported versions and service packs only. The most current service packs are available to organizations, and they are easily deployed via Windows Update, Windows Server Update Services/Microsoft System Center, and the Microsoft Download Center. To better understand the Microsoft Support Lifecycle Policy and your support options visit the Microsoft Support Lifecycle page: http://support.microsoft.com/lifecycle/?LN=en-us&x=13&y=14.
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An unsupported version of Windows will no longer receive software updates from Windows Update. These include security updates that can help protect your PC from harmful viruses, spyware, and other malicious software, which can steal your personal information. Windows Update also installs the latest software updates to improve the reliability of Windows—new drivers for your hardware and more.
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/help/what-does-end-of-support-mean
For the past week or so, MSRC has been closely tracking a new family of threats called Stuxnet (a name derived from some of the filename/strings in the malware — mrxcls.sys, mrxnet.sys). In the past few days, it has become a popular topic of discussion amongst security researchers and in the media. First and foremost, MSRC has recently released one additional signature for this threat, and urge our readers to be sure that you've got the latest anti-malware definition updates installed.
http://blogs.technet.com/b/mmpc/archive/2010/07/16/the-stuxnet-sting.aspx
[PCWorld] You already know the basics of internet security, right? But when you've got the basics covered, but you still don't feel secure, what can you do? Here are a few advanced security tips to help you thwart some of today's most common attacks.
http://www.pcworld.com/article/201309/security_secrets_the_bad_guys_dont_want_you_to_know.html?&tk=hp_fv
[The Washington Post] A group of nations — including the United States, China and Russia — have for the first time signaled a willingness to engage in reducing the threat of attacks on each other’s computer networks.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/07/16/AR2010071605882.html
Microsoft executive Bob Muglia said he was meeting with a chief information officer last year when the man grabbed him and said, "You don't get it. We never want another update from Microsoft again." The man was frustrated by the software updates a corporate customer has to install if it uses Microsoft software — security patches, service packs, other bug fixes. Instead of having to install alerts and patches every month, corporate customers won't have to worry because Microsoft will do it for them.
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/microsoftpri0/2012344672_howthemicrosoftazureappliancechangesthecloudcomputingskyscape.html
More information on Azure: http://www.microsoft.com/windowsazure/