Microsoft Rolls Out Security Pack, Appoints New Chief

Microsoft this week released the Windows 2000 Security Roll-up Package, a cumulative update of security patches issued since the release of Service Pack 2. Users of Windows 2000 Professional, Server, and Advanced Server can secure their systems without multiple hot-fixes and reboots.

Redmond also today announced it had appointed former Department of Justice attorney Scott Charney to head its security division. The news comes on the heels of a memo from Chairman Bill Gates that was intentionally leaked to the press, which called on security to top Microsoft's list of priorities.

"This demonstrates Microsoft's continued commitment to deliver, under the Strategic Technology Protection Program (STPP), comprehensive security roll-up packages providing customers with an easy way to update their environments and eliminating the need for multiple reboots," a Microsoft spokesperson told BetaNews.

The security roll-up package weighs in at almost 17 MB, but a 500 KB express installation is available that will only download and install updates necessary for each computer. Microsoft has setup a knowledge base article detailing a list of patches included in the SRP.