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:2005-08-11
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:2005-06-29
I agree that a router with NAT is a handy tool in securing a home connection (read the last part of my previous post) but my problem is with calling a router a hardware firewall. That's like calling a Go-Kart a family car; yes they both have wheels and an engine, but that's where the similarity ends (imagine a head-on collision in a Go-Kart compared to a real car). As I said before, the only "firewall" in a router is software based and is limited at that. A hardware firewall is what you find in your IT department's wiring closet; it's overkill for the typical home user but the misnomer leads people to believe that a router will offer more protection than it actually does. Your router has its place, but it should never, ever be the only line of defense.
Member since:2007-01-27
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.