Re: How Important Is NetBIOS

From: Mike (user245@xxxxx.hotmail.comxxxxx)
Date: 12/31/02 

From: "Mike" <user245@xxxxx.hotmail.comxxxxx>
Date: Tue, 31 Dec 2002 09:51:31 GMT

NetBIOS is very important if you want to do any file or printer sharing in
the windows world. ZA's "security levels" or whatever they're called blocks
off these ports on the internet side if set properly. Its been a while but I
think medium and up block ports 137-139. I'm guessing you are not behind a
router with a firewall that is already doing this.

There are ways to shut these services down in XP, but if you do this make
sure you document your changes and put them in an obvious place. You may
not be doing Windows networking today, but who knows in the future. Its far
easier just to lower the security settings in ZA than remembering where you
shut off these services, how you hacked the registry, etc.

The purpose of firewalling, or one of the purposes, is so we don't have to
tear our machines apart for security. The firewall is supposed to do the
work for us. 

--
Mike
http://everythingisnt.com
"Andrew Hecox" <ahecox@uchicago.edu> wrote in message
news:tA1Q9.23$K4.3059@news.uchicago.edu...
>
> Sorry if this is a bit of a basic question, but I've just installed my
first firewall
> (Zone Alarm's free version) and I'm wading through all of the various
connection
> attempts and trying to figure what is and isn't worth leaving open.  Most
things
> I can trace back to programs, but I was wondering about how useful NetBIOS
> is in general, since my "freeware" seems to be the only traffic on that
port.
>
> So I guess my question is two-fold.  First, is my system going to be
hindered
>  if I just shutdown port 137, and if not, is there any way to totally
remove
> NetBIOS from my system?  Thanks!
>
> AH
>
>

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