How/Why are hardware firewalls better than software?

Paranoid2000;

I thought the goal now was to own the machine not just root around for passwords and bank account numbers when phishing is so much easier.

Just a thought...

- beads

 

There's little point in "owning" a machine if you can't then control it, which is why Remote Access Trojans - without exception - need to initiate a network connection. Not only can they then inform the controller of their presence but they can accept subsequent commands (send this spam, DoS that system, etc) or receive updates.