SPT Windows Security Configuration

What's going on?

Microsoft has released Windows XP Service Pack 2 and Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1, which improve the operating systems' ability to withstand malicious attacks from viruses and worms. In these service packs, Microsoft is delivering several security technologies (including enhanced network protection, memory protection, E-mail handling, web browsing security, and computer maintenance) that help protect computers against malware and other risks.

These technologies are not intended to replace periodic security updates as they are released, but rather to help strengthen Windows overall defenses against malicious attacks.

For more detailed information about these service packs, go to Microsoft's web site:

What does this mean to you?

These changes only affect you if you are using:

If either of these situations applies to you, please read on.

Two features of these service packs affect Schwab Performance Technologies (SPT) applications: Windows Firewall and DCOM security. Windows Firewall, which is turned on by default, filters out unsolicited incoming traffic through TCP/IP. Because of this, all SPT applications will be denied access through the firewall by default and will not be able to connect across a network. However, certain parameters within the firewall can be set to grant access to our applications.

Also in these service packs, Microsoft has added security enhancements to DCOM. Because Centerpiece, genTrade and PortfolioCenter use DCOM to communicate between the client and server components, certain setting modifications are needed to enable access to Centerpiece and PortfolioCenter components. Altering these settings to accommodate SPT applications will not increase your exposure to any of the risks addressed in by the service packs.

What should you do?

After applying the service packs, you will need to set certain parameters within Windows Firewall and DCOM on each client machine on your network for your SPT applications to run properly. Because these settings are very technical in nature, we built a utility to set these parameters for you. This utility follows Microsoft's specific recommendations on how to allow application access within Windows XP SP2 or Windows Server 2003 SP1 while retaining the benefits of the enhanced security measures.

IMPORTANT LEGAL NOTICE

The accompanying information, installation files, configuration data, and other content, in either electronic or written form (collectively, the "Information"), are provided to you as a registered licensee of a Schwab Performance Technologies ("SPT") product. Except as provided below, the Information will be considered part of the Application defined in your SPT License Agreement (the "Agreement") and is subject to all of the terms and conditions of that Agreement.

THE INFORMATION IS PROVIDED "AS-IS," WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND. SPT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES WITH RESPECT TO THE INFORMATION, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF NON-INFRINGEMENT, TITLE, MERCHANTABILITY, QUITE ENJOYMENT, QUALITY OF INFORMATION, AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.

YOU ACKNOWLEDGE AND AGREE THAT YOU ARE SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR ENSURING THE SECURITY AND PROPER OPERATION OF YOUR COMPUTER SYSTEMS AND NETWORKS. IN NO EVENT WILL SPT, ITS AFFILIATES, OR ANY OF ITS OR THEIR RESPECTIVE DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES, REPRESENTATIVES, AGENTS, LICENSORS, VENDORS, MEMBERS OR PARTNERS, ATTORNEYS, PREDECESSORS, SUCCESSORS OR ASSIGNS BE LIABLE TO YOU OR ANY THIRD PARTY FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, PUNITIVE, EXEMPLARY, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF THE INFORMATION, EVEN IF THEY HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES OR LOSSES.

IN ANY EVENT, THE MAXIMUM LIABILITY OF ANY OF THE FOREGOING PARTIES FOR ALL CLAIMS OF EVERY KIND ARISING OUT OF THE INFORMATION WILL IN NO EVENT EXCEED TEN DOLLARS ($10).

You hereby waive any and all claims, now known or later discovered, that you may have against SPT and its suppliers/licensors arising out of your use of the Information.

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