Port 23

[Guest]

Hello,

I use Windows XP over a LAN connected to a Netgear Router. We use a T1 for
our telephone system and internet connection via a router installed by the
provider. I have the windows firewall installed and the Router has a built
in firewall.

Here's my issue. At some point in the past, port 23 was opened. When I run
a Shields Up scan on any computer in the network I see all ports as blocked,
except port 23, which is open, and port 22, which is stealthed. When I ran
Shields Up previouisly I saw full stealth on the computers. Only one
computer in the network uses telnet. We have had no problems with viruses,
etc, but I want to be sure we're safe. Is it possible that the combined
voice/data line is the cause for this opening, and that the opening is on the
"outside" router, which won't cause any problems for the actual computers on
the network or is this something I should be genuinely concerned about?

Thanks

 

[Steven L Umbach]

It probably is configured to be open and forward to an internal IP in the
configuration of the Netgear Router. If you do not need that port to be open
any more refer to the documentation for the Netgear device on how to disable
that service from being forwarded to an IP on your network. If you can't
find the documentation I believe Netgears's website would have it. Also
unless there is a specific need the telnet service should be disabled on
your computers as shown via services.msc.

Steve