Do I need Windows SQL Server on my computer?

[Orrie]

Hi,

Windows SQL Server is installed on my Win XP Pro (SP2) computer. I assume it
has always been there, and wonder if I need it, since I am in not in a
corporate network. I use the computer in my home office, and the only other
device on our home network is my wife's sharing the DSL line.

The reason I ask is that my new internet security program, Kasperksy v. 6
detects several intrusion attempts a day aimed at the SQL Server.

Do I need SQL Server on my computer? Is it possible to uninstall it? Is it
okay to do that? If I cannot be uninstalled, is there any way to make it
"invisible" to intruders?

Thank you.

Orrie

 

[Leythos]

Hi,

Windows SQL Server is installed on my Win XP Pro (SP2) computer. I assume it
has always been there, and wonder if I need it, since I am in not in a
corporate network. I use the computer in my home office, and the only other
device on our home network is my wife's sharing the DSL line.

The reason I ask is that my new internet security program, Kasperksy v. 6
detects several intrusion attempts a day aimed at the SQL Server.

Do I need SQL Server on my computer? Is it possible to uninstall it? Is it
okay to do that? If I cannot be uninstalled, is there any way to make it
"invisible" to intruders?

SQL Server, desktop edition, can be installed by Visual Studio and
Office Outlook with Business Contact manager and many other non-MS
applications.

You've installed something that uses it, or used it. Try disabling the
service and then use your computer for a while and see if something is
broken - that way you can always enable it if needed.

You can also get a NAT Router from most computer places that will
connect to your DSL line that will block outside intrusions while you
are online.

 

[Paul Johnson]

Windows SQL Server is installed on my Win XP Pro (SP2) computer. I assume
it has always been there, and wonder if I need it, since I am in not in a
corporate network. I use the computer in my home office, and the only
other device on our home network is my wife's sharing the DSL line.

If you don't know that you need SQL server, odds are you don't need it, and
can safely remove it.

The reason I ask is that my new internet security program, Kasperksy v. 6
detects several intrusion attempts a day aimed at the SQL Server.

Good call on asking about that: It's always a bad security practice to run
(or leave installed) daemons/services that you don't need (not to mention
it can cut into performance and resources by leaving 'em there). If you
know you aren't using it and don't need it, get it out of there.

Do I need SQL Server on my computer? Is it possible to uninstall it? Is it
okay to do that? If I cannot be uninstalled, is there any way to make it
"invisible" to intruders?

Another good security practice (for exactly the reason you're having: You
discover something listening on a port you weren't previously aware of) is
a good firewall. For several (what I wish were obvious) reasons
(http://samspade.org/d/firewalls.html), you aren't really adding another
layer of security just by running some software claiming to "firewall" for
you: You need to dedicate some hardware to this task. Any soho router
should be good enough for your case if it's a wired network or just one
computer; if you need wifi, I strongly recommend getting one that runs well
on dd-wrt (http://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/Main_Page) just in case the
software that comes preinstalled turns out to be unreliable or the
manufacturer stops supporting it.

 

[Leythos]

If you don't know that you need SQL server, odds are you don't need it, and
can safely remove it.

Many programs now install MSDE in order to provide their functions - as
does Outlooks Business Contact Manager - so, before he uninstalls it, he
should disable it, and see if the programs still run.

 

[Orrie]

Thank you.

Yes, I do use Outlook and Business Contacts. I appreciate the additional
security suggestions you provided, too.

Orrie