Manage Your Computer's Security Settings in One Place

Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2) contains a collection of new technologies designed to help keep your PC and your personal information more secure. SP2 also makes it easier to monitor these settings with the new Windows Security Center, available through the Control Panel.

The Security Center lets you check the status of your essential security settings. You can also use it to find information about the latest virus or other security threat or to get customer support from Microsoft for a security-related issue.

To open Security Center

1.	Click Start and then click Control Panel. Control Panel with new Security Center icon
2.	Double-click Security Center. You should see a window that looks like the one below. Security Center

Security Center checks to make sure you have:

If the Security Center detects that your computer might benefit from enhanced security in one of the three essential areas listed above, it displays an alert in the notification area (to the right of the taskbar, above the clock). You will see an alert like the one below every time you log on, until the problem is fixed.

Security settings alert

Tip To find out how to address a problem, click any alert and the Security Center will open. In the Security Center, click Recommendations.

Note If your computer is part of a domain (a group of computers on a network), your security settings are typically managed by your network administrator. In this case, the Security Center does not display your security status or send alerts.

Windows Security Center checks for many common antivirus and firewall programs, but it's possible that you might be using a program that Windows can't find. For more information about using antivirus and firewall software that Windows doesn't find, read Monitor Your Firewall and Antivirus Software

Top of page