Online Firewall Tests
#1
Original Poster
In Memoriam
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Easton, CT, USA
Programs: ua prem exec, Former hilton diamond
Posts: 31,801
Online Firewall Tests
I read about these on the way home from a trip yesterday on the flight, sites that break into your computer to see if your firewalls are working or not
http://scan.sygatetech.com/
http://www.auditmypc.com/freescan/prefcan.asp
http://www.qualys.com/research/rnd/rv10/
(you need your IP address for the last one, you can get that at whatismyipaddress.com or the first two tests will tell you)
(the full story is at http://www.pcworld.com/howto/article...,111124,00.asp )
http://scan.sygatetech.com/
http://www.auditmypc.com/freescan/prefcan.asp
http://www.qualys.com/research/rnd/rv10/
(you need your IP address for the last one, you can get that at whatismyipaddress.com or the first two tests will tell you)
(the full story is at http://www.pcworld.com/howto/article...,111124,00.asp )
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2000
Posts: 15,788
#3
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Clearware, FL
Posts: 3
Watch out for GRC. Visit http://www.grcsucks.com for information about the scam.
#4
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Wherever Oxfam wants me to go.
Posts: 3,966
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by planear:
Watch out for GRC. Visit http://www.grcsucks.com for information about the scam.</font>
Watch out for GRC. Visit http://www.grcsucks.com for information about the scam.</font>
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2000
Posts: 15,788
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by DisgruntledGoat:
I concur. GRC should be avoided.</font>
I concur. GRC should be avoided.</font>
That said, I've only run their port scanning tool as a lark. None of the other abovementiond scanners show that I have a vulnerable system, which is as it should be since I believe I've configured my FW to spec
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Texas, U.S.A.
Posts: 19,523
When I'm on my wireless here at home, these scans show my http port 80 as open. But at other locations and when I'm on dial-up it shows all ports including 80 as "Stealth."
Am I correct that this is somehow just because I'm using the Wi-Fi connection and that it's not really a security problem but something going on between my laptop and the Wi-Fi station? I know there's something going on there about 2 different IPs and such, but I don't really understand all that.
I certainly don't have Frontpage or any other personal web server running that I can find.
Thanks.
[This message has been edited by PremEx (edited Dec 17, 2003).]
Am I correct that this is somehow just because I'm using the Wi-Fi connection and that it's not really a security problem but something going on between my laptop and the Wi-Fi station? I know there's something going on there about 2 different IPs and such, but I don't really understand all that.
I certainly don't have Frontpage or any other personal web server running that I can find.
Thanks.
[This message has been edited by PremEx (edited Dec 17, 2003).]
#8




Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Programs: lapsed UA 1K (now a lowly 2P), HGP Platinum
Posts: 9,607
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by planear:
Watch out for GRC. Visit http://www.grcsucks.com for information about the scam.</font>
Watch out for GRC. Visit http://www.grcsucks.com for information about the scam.</font>
#9
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend




Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: source of weird and eccentric ideas
Posts: 40,099
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by robb:
I can't quite figure out what the "scam" is from this site. It seems really poorly disorganized for someone trying to learn his position, and strikes me as a site thrown up out of personal malice. I'm not denying that there might be a scam, I'm just saying that this site doesn't explain it clearly to an outsider and looks like a personal hate site.</font>
I can't quite figure out what the "scam" is from this site. It seems really poorly disorganized for someone trying to learn his position, and strikes me as a site thrown up out of personal malice. I'm not denying that there might be a scam, I'm just saying that this site doesn't explain it clearly to an outsider and looks like a personal hate site.</font>
#10
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Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Department of Homeland Sincerity
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www.grcsucks.com is more or less a collection of personal rants and arguments against Steve Gibson's statements. Some articles are pretty valid, while others are obtuse and silly, like the link to shrine of Steve Gibson's mustache.
I still think many things Steve provides are very useful, but of course no one person can be an expert on everything, so it's going to be easy to poke holes in some things Steve says.
I still think many things Steve provides are very useful, but of course no one person can be an expert on everything, so it's going to be easy to poke holes in some things Steve says.
#11
Original Member and FlyerTalk Evangelist




Join Date: May 1998
Location: Kansas City, MO, USA
Programs: DL PM/MM, AA ExPlat, Hyatt Glob, HH Dia, National ECE, Hertz PC
Posts: 16,619
In my opinion, Steve Gibson is a sensationalist who plays up minor security problems to advance his own career. The whole issue with Universal Plug and Play is the one example that really sticks out in my mind, he basically single-handedly made a mountain out of that mole hill.
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2000
Posts: 15,788
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by PremEx:
When I'm on my wireless here at home, these scans show my http port 80 as open. But at other locations and when I'm on dial-up it shows all ports including 80 as "Stealth."
Am I correct that this is somehow just because I'm using the Wi-Fi connection and that it's not really a security problem but something going on between my laptop and the Wi-Fi station? I know there's something going on there about 2 different IPs and such, but I don't really understand all that.
I certainly don't have Frontpage or any other personal web server running that I can find.
Thanks.
[This message has been edited by PremEx (edited Dec 17, 2003).]</font>
When I'm on my wireless here at home, these scans show my http port 80 as open. But at other locations and when I'm on dial-up it shows all ports including 80 as "Stealth."
Am I correct that this is somehow just because I'm using the Wi-Fi connection and that it's not really a security problem but something going on between my laptop and the Wi-Fi station? I know there's something going on there about 2 different IPs and such, but I don't really understand all that.
I certainly don't have Frontpage or any other personal web server running that I can find.
Thanks.
[This message has been edited by PremEx (edited Dec 17, 2003).]</font>
I suspect that is why you are seeing a positive response from port 80 when you are on your wireless network.
The router should be password protected, so as long as you are not using the default password you should be fine.

