STILL ON WINDOWS XP? Me too. So we'll both want to be sure to install Microsoft's Windows XP Service Pack 3.

SP3 comes via Automatic Updates. and like most service packs, it focuses on must-have bug fixes. Unlike SP2, this third big bundle adds new functionality only for enterprise networks.

Vou might remember that XP SP1 was an installation nightmare for quite a few people. If you have any trouble this time around, as some folks with AMD PCs reportedly are, Microsoft is providing free technical support at support.
microsoft.com/oas/defaul t. aspx?ln=en-us&x= 12&y= 16 &prid=3219&gprid=37013 (for XP Home users) or at 866/234-6020 to help you get XP SP3 installed and
running. And if you are not using Automatic Updates, look for SP3 at the Microsoft Download Center at own loadsl deta i ls. a spx? Fa mil yl D=68c48d a d - bc34-40 be-8d85¬6bb4 f56f511 O&displayla ng=en.

Tracker says it would be an HTML file with an unregistered MIME type-or view a booby-trapped Web page to be nailed. If you haven't already received the patch¬es via Automatic Updates, you can garner more details and links to manually down¬load them at /tech¬net/ secu rity /b u lleti n/ m sO 8 -a p r. m s px.



Flash and QuickTime Holes Adobe's Flash Player has its own share of bug tussles this month. Flash Player 9.0.124.0 (the latest version) fixes seven bad security vulnerabilities, any of which could open the door to a "bot" infec¬tion. An attacker would strike when you view a malicious Flash media (. swf) file, which could hap-
pen as a drive-by-download if you simply visit a site. Browse to www.adobe. coml su ppo rtl secu ri ty Ibu lleti n 51 apsb08-11. html for more info as well as for links to available downloads.

Not to be outdone, Apple has a bushel of fixes that close up 12 security glitches in QuickTime. The holes entail the usual risk of losing control of your PC if you break the "be careful where you click" rule and open a poisoned file attachment or click a link to visit a Web page with malicious code.

Apple's patch updates the media player to the fixed version 7.4.5, and is available for Mac as x as well as Windows operat¬ing systems. Get the download and more information at support.apple.com/kb/HT1222