Recently, Microsoft released three critically important core product updates in a very intensive manner - Microsoft Office 2003 Service Pack 1 (Office 2003 patch), Microsoft Windows Update v5 (Upgrade update program) and Microsoft Windows XP Service 2 (Windows XP patch package, hereinafter referred to as SP2).
Office 2003 patch package is mainly used to make up for the security risks and vulnerabilities of Office 2003; Windows XP SP2 is to put the main update point on the security function; and that Windows Update v5 seems not very eye-catching, but It is an important role that Microsoft needs to deploy before the SP2 update.
Secret: SP2 What are you doing?
From Microsoft's very early attitude, we have already felt that SP2's content will focus on improving security. Now it provides a "Windows Firewall" is a powerful evidence of. In fact, Windows XP originally had an internal firewall, but at the time it was just a small checkbox. This upgrade has raised its importance by an order of magnitude.
Domestic security expert Wang Jiangmin also called for SP2 bundled firewall and spam filtering: "The anti-virus software that originally obtained the market by firewall and other edge functions should return to the standard, focusing on the research and development of anti-virus
technology
And improve, no need to be keen on hype edge function."
Moreover, Microsoft greatly enhanced the flexibility, operability and refinement options of the network firewall, which is not a simple functional improvement. It reflects the changes in Microsoft's strategy. Microsoft needs to use Office's patch package or SP2 to change people's perception of Microsoft.
Behind the scenes: Windows Update becomes a booster
The most notable is that Microsoft has completely rewritten the entire Microsoft Windows Update script in order to cooperate with the release of SP2, and even adjusted the main version number (Main Version). Upgraded from v4 to v5.
Microsoft's update program may not be noticeable because it always works silently in the background. But starting with Windows 98 SE, this script is the only interface between Windows and Microsoft's online update website. Therefore, Microsoft has such a big action on this interface, the risk is very big, it can be said that it is on a tightrope. However, this time Microsoft did.
What is the purpose of updating Windows Update? The only explanation we can get is that if you don't deploy a new script, it will affect Microsoft's strategic strategy implementation plan, because Microsoft wants to completely change some of the status quo.
Reflection: SP2 launches Microsoft's new strategy
For Microsoft's series of actions, we can easily see that Microsoft's strategy is shifting from core product improvement to product service improvement.
Windows and Office are Microsoft's flagship products, and after 25 years of development, they are becoming more and more mature. When the dream of "running Microsoft software on every desktop" is largely realized, where is the next step? Microsoft certainly does not want this dream to be awakened. But how easy is it to achieve?
For Microsoft, it must find one of the following ways: improve existing products, increase consumer confidence, have a good enough market for the next version of the product launch, or find other markets, such as enterprise servers market. One of the two aspects is common. This is the security of software. Unsafe software will not be used by individuals and businesses.
This time, when we see that Microsoft is constantly updating its flagship product, we should immediately realize why Microsoft recently intentionally and unintentionally proclaimed that "Linux is not safe at all" because now for users, Product safety is confidence, confidence is the market of the business, and the market is the future, this future is Microsoft's ambition.