Microsoft has had to create a new build of Windows XP Professional for computer makers because the six-year-old operating system's continued popularity has nearly exhausted the supply of product activation keys. The new build, dubbed SP2c, includes no fixes or feature changes, but was created simply to address the shrinking pool of product keys. XP Pro SP2c, which has been released to manufacturing, will be made available to OEMs and system builders next month, said Microsoft.
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Member since:2005-06-29
I agree with what you are saying, except:
...with a good hardware firewall and AV, it'll be pretty secure.
How many home users running Windows XP have a hardware firewall sitting in their server rack in the living room, do you think? Or were you referring to a consumer-level router? The "firewall" in that type of router is software-based, and isn't a true software firewall at that. It's nothing more than NAT and some (very limited) port forwarding. A true software firewall is best run on the workstation, and a true hardware firewall is more expensive and complicated than most home users can handle. Yes, a home router can be fairly effective at stealthing the computers behind it, but it's an enormous stretch to call it a firewall.
Sorry for the rant, but this is one of my pet peeves when it comes to the technologically misinformed.
Member since:2005-08-11
a lot of people these days have nat routers in their homes, and while not fool-proof, they are a first line of defense against the wild and wooly internet. Most consumer routers also have firewalls. Hopefully, by the time XP is no longer supported, wireless routers will begin to approach wired routers level of security.
Member since:2007-01-27
Member since:
2005-08-11
Not really, then it just becomes like win98, and third parties will continue to write software for it if it is still popular, and with a good hardware firewall and AV, it'll be pretty secure.