On Tue, 14 Oct 2003 07:48:49 +0100, "Brainbuster"
wrote:

Lancer wrote...

What you see in your networks doesn't show what ports you have open.


I know, but can someone connect using a protocol that you do not have
installed?

By default windows has quite a few ports open that aren't dependant on
the protocols that are installed. Installing applications can open
more ports up. Adding a controller for lighting control using your
computer opens port 5000 (upnp) which is bad idea to leave hanging
open to the outside world.



Find a copy of nmap, or go to tucows and look for a port scanner. You
might be shocked how many ports you have open. By the way, port
scanning isn't illegal, unless you try to use what you find out.


Have you ever tried the on-line scanner on the "Shields Up" site?
It runs through a series of ports to see if it gets a response. It will
then give a report, stating if ports were open, closed (giving a "closed"
response), or in "stealth" mode (giving no reply). They also have a test
program download, to see if your firewall would allow outgoing connections.
A firewall should block both, and let you know (if you have warnings
enabled).

There is also a program called "Net Peeker", which can display and log all
data transfer with IP numbers, ports used and which software is being used
for that connection.

Some ports have to be open, to allow the data you are requesting or sending.
If all ports were kept closed, you wouldn't get anything from the Internet.


Port 80 and 443 are used for your Web browser, but they won't be open
to the outside unless you have a web server running.


My firewall will block any software trying to make a connection, unless I
have told it to allow that software. It certainly blocks and warns about
plenty of attempts from other computers on the Internet. The largest amount
of attempts is when I connect through my usual ISP... the attempts just keep
coming, from the same place.
I also see from my log that attempts from my ISP have been blocked. I am
not sure why they are trying to access certain ports on my computer, but
blocking them has no ill effect.

Any idea why my ISP should be making my firewall complain?


Which ports are they looking at? How do you know its from your ISP
and not another member of your isp?


Regards,

Peter.