Windows XP Service Pack 3

Released on 21, 2008, the Windows XP Service Pack 3, or SP3 for short, comes with no visual changes and lots of under-the-hood improvements over its precursor, the SP2, as well over the standalone version of Windows XP.

The third installment of Windows XP service packs can be deployed with relative ease thanks to a straightforward installer, which is cumulative, meaning that users will be able to bring the latest improvements over from just about any pre-SP3 version of Windows XP, on all variations such as XP Home Edition, and XP Media Center Edition.

Some of the most noteworthy new features added to Windows with the help of SP3 are black hole router detection and support for NAP (Network Access Protection). Other features include Group Policy support for IEEE 802.1X authentication for wired network adapters, Credential Security Support Provider, an updated version of Microsoft Enhanced Cryptographic Provider Module with FIPS 140-2 certifications, and support for  SHA-2 signatures in X.509 certificates.

Of course, as mentioned before, it also incorporate all of the important updates from and before SP2 such as Windows Imaging Component, Peer Name Resolution Protocol 2.1, Network Diagnostics update, WPA2 Update, enhanced Credential Security Support Provider, RemoteApp server, Remote Desktop Protocol 6.1 with support for ClearType and 32-bit color depth, Credential roaming service, MSXML 6.0 SP2 and XMKLLite, IPSec Simple Policy Update, and Background Intelligent Transfer Service 2.5.