Security Settings Bubble in XP Service Pack 2

If you have already installed the Windows XP Service Pack 2, you have become all too familiar with the Windows Security Bubble that pops up at the bottom right corner telling (annoying) you about your anti virus, firewall, and update settings and status. If you want to shut this annoying bubble off, here’s how.

Click on Start/Settings/Control Panel/Security Center
You will see the following:

I would first shut the firewall OFF and set the Automatic Updates to alert you to new updates, not update automatically. Nothing is worse than performing a defrag or working on a project and being interrupted by Windows trying to download an update. Do this by scrolling to the bottom of the page, clicking on the respective headings, and make the changes. You will still be able to perform updates. The difference is that instead of automatically downloading and installing them, your computer will simply tell you updates are available and you can click and download them on YOUR schedule.

On the list on the left side, click on the words “Change the way Security Center alerts me”. You will see this:

Uncheck all of the boxes and click on OK. No more bubbles…