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WiFi routers are a primary attack point for those that are distributing malware and building bot-nets. For that reason they get frequent updates for security issues in their firmware. New models handle newer, more secure protocols.
Not using a router to connect to the Internet is almost pointless. It can still be used as an access to other machines on your network, machine which may have Internet access. Given it's weak security you may have false confidence in its level of protection.
Software Zen: delete this;
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As I understood OP's question, he's talking about the wifi "dongle" we plugged into a USB port before there was motherboard wifi support.
Sure, routers are a major attack target for the baddies, but that isn't what this thread is about.
Software rusts. Simon Stephenson, ca 1994. So does this signature. me, 2012
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Gary R. Wheeler wrote: It can still be used as an access to other machines on your network, machine which may have Internet access.
Not necessarily if you white list the connection pool pool, mapping only fixed local IPs to concrete MACs in your LAN subnet where thy are involved (and IIRC that was already possible in many router brands back in 2006)
M.D.V. 
If something has a solution... Why do we have to worry about?. If it has no solution... For what reason do we have to worry about?
Help me to understand what I'm saying, and I'll explain it better to you
Rating helpful answers is nice, but saying thanks can be even nicer.
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Gary R. Wheeler wrote: For that reason they get frequent updates for security issues in their firmware.
Wifi routers get frequent security updates? That's certainly not my experience. And definitely not the opinion of Steve Gibson, host of the Security Now podcast...he's rather dismayed at how quickly routers are abandoned by their manufacturers and hardly ever get updates.
Unless you're talking about expensive commercial routers for which you pay a "subscription" fee - not consumer units.
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Security under WPA2 is cracked and unsecure. On top a lot of wifi devices have known flaws like bugs or fix passwords.
Google for details
ps: I work for an established wifi vendor
Press F1 for help or google it.
Greetings from Germany
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I understand the wide range of vulnerabilities in wifi networks, but I am yet to see one implicating a wifi "dongle" which is what the original question referred to.
ps I have been building computer networks since well before wifi was invented.
Software rusts. Simon Stephenson, ca 1994. So does this signature. me, 2012
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I think you have enough time to for learning by "bad experience" when using trashy hardware and risk security flaw.
As Bear Grylls said: "I am too old for that sh*t" 
Press F1 for help or google it.
Greetings from Germany
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Given that wifi routers still support B/G/N which were all available back then, I wouldn't call them obsolete. I remember getting a USB attached Linksys device that routinely connected at 300MB/s. It became obsolete due to incompatible drivers/lack of support from Linksys. this was OK since at the same time, systems came with built-on wifi.
On the same note, I was pondering something similar about my h/o server. The case/cpu/mobo/fans/psu are all around 13 y/o. The original 64GB SSD and spinning data drive have both been upgraded. (the spinner actually died an unrecoverable death at the 6 year mark) So current SSDs are around 7 y/o and everything else is original. Performance-wise, it still seems snappy enough...occasional monitoring during peak hours doesn't show anything to be alarmed about. I'm considering replacing it with an Azure VM to handle the dozen or so web applications/domain it is currently hosting and using an older laptop for a file/printer server for the local stuff I've come to rely on. Hardware is lasting a lot longer these days, especially with the advent of SS drives.
"Go forth into the source" - Neal Morse
"Hope is contagious"
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yes, it will work but the speed won't be that great
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Santana is awesome. I love that Santana guitar sound.
Saw him in a concert years ago (1970's) and he is still doing concerts in 2022.
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Those are some awesome drummers from our day; you can add many to that list: Bonham, White, Collins, etc. There are a lot of contemporary, young percussionists today as well. Search YouTube for a fellow named Gavin Harrison. Technical skills out the wazoo, and all-around inspired, tasteful drums and embellishments.
If you think 'goto' is evil, try writing an Assembly program without JMP.
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Ghost - Watcher In The Sky[^]
Don't worry, it's Saturday, you don't have to work today, but I'm a day late.
Better late than never though 
The Swedish Ghost (or Ghost B.C. in the USA) recently released their fifth album.
They quickly gained popularity with their debut from 2010.
The first three albums were heavy metal/hard rock with occult lyrical themes.
It was always somewhat poppy, they covered multiple ABBA songs, but it was always still hard rock.
Unfortunately, their poppy side took over on the fourth album and many fans dropped the band, including me.
Now with their fifth album they return to rock, although it's still less rock than the third album it's also less poppy than the fourth.
Seen them live around 2016, great show!
I had hoped the fifth album would be more like the first three, but it's still a good album.
Watcher In The Sky is a new song from the fifth album.
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David O'Neil wrote: London Grammar - Heat Waves
Nice 
David O'Neil wrote: edit - plus a live show! London Grammar: Californian Soil
You've shared this one before.
It's still brilliant
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Seeing this created live is really astonishing ...
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I agree. Watch his other videos - he is a master at his craft.
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Cool stuff
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I've been using a notebook for so long that I am completely used to using the standard touchpad on a notebook, whether it's one that has buttons or allows for depressing the bottom left or right on a buttonless pad. Of course, the last time I used a desktop system, I used a mouse with a rubber ball that would be moved along the top of a mousepad. But it seems that there is now a (laser? optical?) moving mouse that does not have a rubber ball but that is moved like the one with a rubber ball (does that require a mousepad?), and even a stationary mouse that has a trackball on top the is moved around with a thumb, or perhaps with any finger.
Looking around Amazon, I didn't see too many touchpads that resembled one that would be on a notebook (although maybe I don't know what I am looking for). As for the non-ball moving mouse, it seems that they draw a lot of power, and thus automatically turn off after some time of non-use, necessitating that the mouse get turned over and switched back on - this would be a big turn-off (pun not intended) for me. Everyone seems to say that once the hang of it is garnered, the trackball is the best; I guess that in the way that I have mastered the notebook touchpad, I will be able to master the trackball (Evolution has done a wonderful job in crafting the human eye-hand coordinating system).
So, I guess I would like some opinions from folks that regularly use all these different systems, especially anyone that uses a touchpad for a desktop.
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As someone that's used everything you've mentioned:
Trackball mouse: They're good if you don't need snap movement. So unless you play games that require quick pointer movement (e.g. fps, moba) there's really no downside in my opinion. Can be uncomfortable or awkward to use initially since it differs the most from every other peripheral. Also sometimes the ball and bearings on the inside of the hole the ball sits in get dry and it gets awkward/sticky to move if you have dry hands.
Optical mouse: They're ok. I've had bad experiences with certain surfaces and mousepads where they don't pick up that the mouse is actually moving for an uncomfortably noticeable amount of distance.
Laser mouse: My preference overall. More arm movement than a trackball mouse obviously but you can also make snap movements for games. Never had an issue on a mousepad but some really smooth surfaces can cause issues. In my experience even pretty reliable if you're using your pants/leg as a mousepad for something like a laptop.
Touchpad: (Just to give the other opinions some context.) Good for precise and quick movements over a short distance. Has issues with long dragging motions and resets. A complete PITA if you want to click and drag farther than the pad space + sensitivity allows. On the other hand, probably the easiest and most comfortable to scroll with and usually supports both vertical and horizontal scrolling.
Personal preference, but I always prefer wired over wireless to avoid the battery optimization stuff like the mouse turning off and to avoid dealing with charging and batteries in general. As far as the options above, if you can I'd try to test them out and see what's most comfortable for you if you're able.
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Quote: So unless you play games that require quick pointer movement (e.g. fps, moba)
I'd disagree - they allow a more precise movement in FPS games as well.
I started with Doom on the keyboard (Arrgh!) moved to mouse, then trackball and it was much better. When I moved back to a mouse for Quake it was terrible: faster left-right but too wild for any accuracy. Then UT, and now GTA V - if you want to kill from a distance with a quick weapon, it's easy to get accurate hits (and I use a controller for the driving bits)
"I have no idea what I did, but I'm taking full credit for it." - ThisOldTony
"Common sense is so rare these days, it should be classified as a super power" - Random T-shirt
AntiTwitter: @DalekDave is now a follower!
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This is why it's always good to try stuff out Back when I played CS 1.6 I felt like I had to choose between same-screen accuracy and the ability to snap a 180 or other long movements because unlike a laser mouse where you can set your desired accuracy and then just remember how many pad-lengths it takes to hit a 180 (e.g. 1.5x or whatever), with a trackball you kinda just have to flick it, let it spin, and hope you stop it on the 180. It doesn't have a static "frame of reference" like other mice do (the mousepad). It's more timing based. For me personally, even though I used a trackball for like 2-3 years, I ended up switching and never looked back.
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