OK, this is one is a semantics issue in the tech world. A true router is a device that has the ability to intelligently route traffic based not only on static routes, but on dynamic routing protocols and can handle advanced functions pertaining to handling traffic flows that other devices aren't designed to do.
So, in other words, when you go out and buy a Linksys "router" at Best Buy, that is really not a router even though they call it that. It's really just a NAT device that may have some firewall functions built into it. It can't truly route traffic since it only has an Internet port and everything else is considered an internal port. There is no routing involved...it either passes the traffic or it doesn't depending on it's configuration.
But, this is getting kind of technical. When you connect one network (WAN) the Internet to a LAN (that is only one network) even a $600 Cisco PIX isn't a "real" router. It can play one on TV, though, letting traffic in and out, but not intelligently routing.
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Lurker, many have tried VPN and there are many ways to set it up, but as I and others have found, it is far too slow. RWW or RDP or some commercial VPNs have been found to work better.
RDW is blazing fast -- as if you're there, but it does punch a larger hole into the firewall that most hackers know is 3389. So, I generally change the RDP port. But, XP comes with RDP anyway, so it's cheap (free) and fast and with REALLY good firewalls, it can be fairly secure.
