Port Scanning

[lambo]

I was hoping someone could explain to me what is meant by "Port Scanning"
as a means to access another persons computer, and how routers can defeat these unscrupulus port scanning rascals.

Thanks

[jinn]

Without getting too graphic for fear of being banned, Port Scanning is someone sending Packets to different ports on a PC (FTP,Telnet, Domain etc. there are 65,535 ports on your PC.) to see which ones are listening. There are many different port scans out there. UDP,Bounce,Stealth. A router works with your Ethernet Cable or DSL using NAT so your address is never shown on the internet is one way of router protection. It also uses TCP/IP port inspections.

[This message has been edited by jinn (edited 06-17-2001).]

[AwARe]

Hello lambo,

Lemme try to explain this in a very simply way that will hopefully make sense
Hopefully you will find this helpful......

Imagine your computer is your house and the router is the garage
When people do a port scan on your computer, they are basically checking to see which doors you may have left open......(Just doing a port scan really doesnt do anything, other then tell the person doing the scan, which doors are open)

There are certain doors that "must be left open" in order for you to access the internet. When you are hooked to the net through a router what this basically does for you "to say it in a very simple way", they may be able to get into your garage, but its not as easy to get into the main house......

Hopefully that makes at least a little bit of sense.........and hopefully the geeks will excuse the comparison between the house and the comp heh

[This message has been edited by AwARe (edited 06-17-2001).]

[rond36]

If you are worried about someone scanning your ports and want to prevent
them from finding open ones try using a firewall program it will mask or close all open ports. you can define which progams can access the internet
A good (and free) firewall utility is zonealarm you can get it at www.zonealarm.com (http://www.zonealarm.com) it is free for personal use

[jinn]

Thanks AwARe, I had no idea how to say it in an easy way. What I ended up doing was only saying half of what it does do and confusing things further. I didn't know how to say it short and sweet.

[mjc]

Good job, Aware, at least it wasn't a toaster! http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

------------------
mjc
Links list:Computer Links (http://www.fortunecity.com/skyscraper/highrise/11/index.htm)

Celts are the men that heaven made mad, For all their battles are merry and their songs are all sad.

[Bailey]

Zonealarm is an excellent firewall, and you definitely can't beat it for free. I wouldn't be online without it.

If you would like to check your security you can go to GRC (http://grc.com) and click on shields up. It will give you a good idea about the vulnerability of you machine and has a good general explaination of port scanning.

------------------
"Ooooh, They have the
internet on computers now!" - Homer Simpson