Insecure port

[a]

this is a known weakness in XP - that your port is left
completely open by default to anyone who wants to access
your PC - as soon as you're connected to the internet,
you're vulnerable.
The only way around this is to configure your PC so that
it's extremely restricted (using firewalls etc, which
some ISPs won't even let you connect to them with).
This is an XP fault/bug, although some may tell you it's
a "feature".
You can disable the Windows Messaging, but your port will
still be open to hackers unless you use a firewall.
I suggest everyone who gets annoyed by this bug emails
Microsoft several hundred times each - hopefully they'll
then fix it.
>-----Original Message-----
>
>Hi.
>
>I wonder if anyone could point me in the right
direction.
>I have received a SPAM from a company called
>detroyads.com advising me that there is an insecure port
>in XP that they (and anyone else) can access as they
have
>got my internet address. They are trying to get me to
pay
>$25 to buy some software that they sell (surprise
>surprise) which will close this port off.
>
>Is this true ? Is there anything else I can do here to
>protect myself ? How real is the risk ?
>
>If anyone out there could help me to resolve this issue,
>I would really appreciate it.
>
>Thanks in advance for your assistance.
>
>Regards
> Colin
>
>
>.
>

[Patrick Hallihan]

Colin,

Don't listen to the anonymous "a". He's spreading baseless FUD (That's
Fear, Uncertainty, Doubt) basically trying to rile-up anti-Microsoft
sentiment. The popups are annoying, but they don't indicate any kind of
vulnerability. It's just a side effect of being hooked up to a global
network that is designed to allow computers to send messages and data to
other computers.

With that said, you should probably look into installing a free firewall.
Zone Labs has a pretty decent one at:

http://www.zonelabs.com/store/content/catalog/products/zonealarm/znalm_details.jsp

Or enable XP's built-in firewall. The firewall will be able to block
unwanted messages like the one you received, and it will provide a second
line of defense against viruses and hackers.

If you need help on the specifics, post to the list.

Regards,
Patrick Hallihan
MCSE, MCDBA

"a" > wrote in message
...
> this is a known weakness in XP - that your port is left
> completely open by default to anyone who wants to access
> your PC - as soon as you're connected to the internet,
> you're vulnerable.
> The only way around this is to configure your PC so that
> it's extremely restricted (using firewalls etc, which
> some ISPs won't even let you connect to them with).
> This is an XP fault/bug, although some may tell you it's
> a "feature".
> You can disable the Windows Messaging, but your port will
> still be open to hackers unless you use a firewall.
> I suggest everyone who gets annoyed by this bug emails
> Microsoft several hundred times each - hopefully they'll
> then fix it.
> >-----Original Message-----
> >
> >Hi.
> >
> >I wonder if anyone could point me in the right
> direction. Col
> >I have received a SPAM from a company called
> >detroyads.com advising me that there is an insecure port
> >in XP that they (and anyone else) can access as they
> have
> >got my internet address. They are trying to get me to
> pay
> >$25 to buy some software that they sell (surprise
> >surprise) which will close this port off.
> >
> >Is this true ? Is there anything else I can do here to
> >protect myself ? How real is the risk ?
> >
> >If anyone out there could help me to resolve this issue,
> >I would really appreciate it.
> >
> >Thanks in advance for your assistance.
> >
> >Regards
> > Colin
> >
> >
> >.
> >

[Bruce Chambers]

Greetings --

I do wish you'd stop lying about this. The messenger service
allows the computer to receive short text messages. It does not give
anyone access to the hard drive.

Additionally, a properly configured firewall does not restrict
one's use of the computer in any way, shape, or form.

If you're not even going to bother learning how to use your own
computer, please stop posting false advice to people in search of
useful information.

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:
http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html
----
You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on
having both at once. -- RAH


"a" > wrote in message
...
> this is a known weakness in XP - that your port is left
> completely open by default to anyone who wants to access
> your PC - as soon as you're connected to the internet,
> you're vulnerable.
> The only way around this is to configure your PC so that
> it's extremely restricted (using firewalls etc, which
> some ISPs won't even let you connect to them with).
> This is an XP fault/bug, although some may tell you it's
> a "feature".
> You can disable the Windows Messaging, but your port will
> still be open to hackers unless you use a firewall.
> I suggest everyone who gets annoyed by this bug emails
> Microsoft several hundred times each - hopefully they'll
> then fix it.
> >-----Original Message-----
> >
> >Hi.
> >
> >I wonder if anyone could point me in the right
> direction.
> >I have received a SPAM from a company called
> >detroyads.com advising me that there is an insecure port
> >in XP that they (and anyone else) can access as they
> have
> >got my internet address. They are trying to get me to
> pay
> >$25 to buy some software that they sell (surprise
> >surprise) which will close this port off.
> >
> >Is this true ? Is there anything else I can do here to
> >protect myself ? How real is the risk ?
> >
> >If anyone out there could help me to resolve this issue,
> >I would really appreciate it.
> >
> >Thanks in advance for your assistance.
> >
> >Regards
> > Colin
> >
> >
> >.
> >