Confused newbie

From: blu (blumagic66@netscape.net)
Date: 02/14/03 

From: blu <blumagic66@netscape.net>
Date: Fri, 14 Feb 2003 05:27:40 GMT

Hi All,

New to home networking and security and would like to
understand what I think is occurring on my machines.
I have set-up a home network with windows 98,xp and linux
machines. I have a linksys router set up also to share my
broadband connection. The grc.com site says that my machines
are protected and my ports dont exist and are in stealth mode.
When I use the netstat command, "netstat -an" I see numerous ports
listening and some have established connections to ip's/ports. The
grc site is connecting to my linksys, so it cant see my computers.
I dont understand how and why these ports are listening and establishing
connections without zone alarm catching them.

How do I determine which ports should be open and which are unnecessary?
How do I close ports in windows xp?
Can I configure zone alarm/blackice to stop connections or close these
open ports?

I thank everyone for any and all tips and hints to solutions
to these issues.

blu.....

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Mainpine IQ Express: PCI-Express multi-port fax board for the free Microsoft Fax Server
    ... The IQ Express does support it. ... except that testing from one set of ports back to another ... I like the results with Brother MFC machines. ... the Microsoft Fax Service that is included with Windows XP/2003 SBS/ ...
    (microsoft.public.windows.server.sbs)
  • Re: Can access other PC by IP, but not by UNC name
    ... > Doublecheck if the built in firewall is disabled on both machines. ... The Windows firewall is disabled on both machines. ... is in the Trusted zone; the zone's security setting is set to ... medium (meaning all ports to this zone are open by default), ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.network_web)
  • Re: Confused newbie
    ... > understand what I think is occurring on my machines. ... > are protected and my ports dont exist and are in stealth mode. ... > listening and some have established connections to ip's/ports. ... your IP addy for security and then post the results here for a better ...
    (alt.computer.security)
  • Re: Advice re PC Maclan.
    ... Ports 135 epmap and 515 printer are open and both ... The fact that 139 is closed on the Windows end is ... the machine is actually listening on 139! ... Active Connections ...
    (uk.comp.sys.mac)
  • Re: Mainpine IQ Express: PCI-Express multi-port fax board for the free Microsoft Fax Server
    ... except that testing from one set of ports back to another ... I like the results with Brother MFC machines. ... what you will do on your systems or network. ... the Microsoft Fax Service that is included with Windows XP/2003 SBS/ ...
    (microsoft.public.windows.server.sbs)