Re: TCPIP port restriction for network security

>Is it that bad to really open up a port across the board?

Not at all, unless a hacker "sniffs out" (finds) your open port.

Leaving a port open is like leaving the front door to your house open.  It's 
"ok" until somebody walks in and takes your stuff.

Just my $0.02.

Terry

PS - "Just because you're paranoid, doesn't mean their not out to get you."







                                                                                
                      
                    mcrump@sgcontainers                                         
                      
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                    owner-midrange-l@mi        Subject:     TCPIP port 
restriction for network        
                    drange.com                 security                         
                      
                                                                                
                      
                                                                                
                      
                    01/23/01 09:02 AM                                           
                      
                    Please respond to                                           
                      
                    MIDRANGE-L                                                  
                      
                                                                                
                      
                                                                                
                      





I need some opinions - ok, dumb statement :-)

For security purposes our firewall has most of the ports closed to the outside
world.  I know when we started some outside work with a  consulting company I
had to pull teeth to get port 1352 (Notes) open for some people in our company.

My question is, and I realize this isn't necessarily AS/400 (umm...iSeries)
related but what do people do and why with regards to their firewall and ports?
Is it that bad to really open up a port across the board?  Let me back up a
little.  We are starting to use SameTime with the same consulting firm and it
has a chat function.  This chat function does not by default use port 80.  So,
my options are either open up the port or investigate the changing of the
default port.  Typically, I hate to mess around with changing default ports
because it always seems to cause me some sort of problem later.

Any thoughts/ideas/opinions from you security and network minded people?  If I
go to my network people all they do is give me grief.  They may be right but I'd
like to hear what anyone else has to say.

Thanks.



Michael Crump
Saint-Gobain Containers
1509 S. Macedonia Ave.
Muncie, IN  47302
(765)741-7696
(765)741-7012 f
(800)428-8642


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