In anticipation of Microsoft's Windows XP Service Pack 2, Computer Associates announced that it has added security updates to its eTrust security management solutions for both consumers and corporate customers. The new services are integrated into SP2's Security Center. The integrations will allow Windows Firewall protection to remain active, while security enhancements are made.

"As the world's leading provider of security management solutions, CA is working closely with Microsoft to help ensure that its customers reap the full benefits of Windows XP SP2," said Toby Weiss, CA senior vice president, eTrust Security Management Solutions. "Both our enterprise eTrust Antivirus and our consumer eTrust EZ Antivirus solutions interoperate with the native security features of Windows to help ensure that users' desktops have complete, up-to-date virus signatures and that their security mechanisms are appropriately configured to provide maximum protection against both malware and network-based threats."

Although specific details were not available, CA's eTrust update will make corporate and consumer systems more resistant to various network breaches by hackers. Windows XP SP2 will support some newer technologies like Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.

Neil Charney, director, Windows Product Management at Microsoft Corp. summed up some key points concerning CA's and Microsoft's security tie-in "The Windows Security Center feature of SP2 provides users the ability to automatically check the status of essential security functionality and CA's support of Windows XP SP2 is an important step in helping customers get the latest security updates and features for their PCs."