Question

Opeing ports (port forwarding) and security

Asked by: kingernie

Hi,

I want to open a port (something like 1024-10000) on my firewall of my wireless Linksys router, so that my friend (who is also using a Linksys wireless router) and I can transfer files via ICQ.
Will the jeopardizing the security of our computers?  
If I have that port opened, will other computers be able to hack into my computer through that port?
I have to disable “BLOCK WAN REQUEST” in order to allow port forwarding.  Is that safe?
And how is that value of the port determined?
Finally, is there an easy (and perhaps safer) way to work around our routers to transfer files via ICQ?

Thanks a bunch!

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Asked On
2003-06-08 at 22:28:32ID20641224
Tags

computer

,

how

,

icq

,

opeing

Topic

Network Software Firewalls

Participating Experts
3
Points
50
Comments
6

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Answers

 

by: judhiPosted on 2003-06-09 at 08:31:11ID: 8682714

Hi kingernie,

Even without opening those ports your computer possibly still hackable.
The main thing is, if there's any program in your computer listening on certain port then somebody could try to use this port to get in.

If you want to play safe, you can open those port on your Linksys router but you must install personal firewall on your computer (like ZoneAlarm www.zonelabs.com). Personal firewall will help to protect your PC should any malicious program try to send or receive something.

Hope this helps.
Judhi

 

by: kingerniePosted on 2003-06-09 at 11:23:57ID: 8684210

Hi,

I have Outlook running on my computer, so ports 25 and 110 are opened on my computer.  
And for ICQ’s file transfer feature to work, I will need to open another port (by the way, how large should I open that port to?  icq says that we need to open a port in the 1024 to 65500 range, but how is a value determined? should I keep it as small as possible?).

I also have a firewall (PC-Cillian, which comes with my new motherboard) setup, which only allows computers on my home network access to each other.

Does a firewall set up in the above way prevent hackers from breaking in to my computers, even though I have ‘ports’ opened?

Thanks again!

 

by: kingerniePosted on 2003-06-09 at 15:13:03ID: 8686013

One more thing, if I open up ports on my network, will that risk having people in my neighborhood steal my broadband bandwidth?

Thanks!

 

by: TaishakuPosted on 2003-06-11 at 01:45:19ID: 8697615

>>Does a firewall set up in the above way prevent hackers from breaking in to my computers, even though I have ‘ports’ opened?

Actually if you have ports opened and especially ICQ's port... you must assume that you can be hacked... there so much stuff that allow someone to take the control of the computer of someone using ICQ that it is for me one of the worst way to exchange files... but maybe I'm paranoid...
Anyway... YES if the computer that have access to internet is hacked... and if your firewall accept traffic between local computers... nothing is blocked between your computers so if 1 is hacked... then all can be hacked...

>>if I open up ports on my network, will that risk having people in my neighborhood steal my broadband bandwidth?

the only risks is that if you are hacked and if hackers want to use your broadband yes... of course... otherwise don't worry :-)

 

by: tim_holmanPosted on 2004-02-08 at 07:43:51ID: 10303314

No comment has been added lately, so it's time to clean up this TA.
I will leave a recommendation in the Cleanup topic area that this question is:

--> SPLIT:Taishaku judhi

Please leave any comments here within the next four days.

PLEASE DO NOT ACCEPT THIS COMMENT AS AN ANSWER!

tim_holman
EE Cleanup Volunteer

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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