Came across this and was wondering if this is a legit concern.
http://grc.com/dos/xpsummary.htm
Windows XP's new support of the full raw socket application programming Interface (API) allows for the creation of fraudulent and damaging Internet traffic. This has never been possible under Windows without first modifying the operating system with third-party device drivers ? which has never been done by malicious programs.
The security features built into all other raw socket capable operating systems (Windows 2000, Unix, Linux, etc.) deliberately restrict raw socket access to applications running with full "root" privilege. However, the Home Edition of Windows XP executes all applications with full administrative ("root" privilege. Thus, Windows XP eliminates the raw socket safety restrictions imposed by all other operating systems.
http://grc.com/dos/xpsummary.htm
Windows XP's new support of the full raw socket application programming Interface (API) allows for the creation of fraudulent and damaging Internet traffic. This has never been possible under Windows without first modifying the operating system with third-party device drivers ? which has never been done by malicious programs.
The security features built into all other raw socket capable operating systems (Windows 2000, Unix, Linux, etc.) deliberately restrict raw socket access to applications running with full "root" privilege. However, the Home Edition of Windows XP executes all applications with full administrative ("root" privilege. Thus, Windows XP eliminates the raw socket safety restrictions imposed by all other operating systems.