Desktop port proliferation a security risk?

Desktop port proliferation a security risk?
Robert Lemos, SecurityFocus 2005-07-13

Software maker Opera's decision to support BitTorrent has added to some security experts' worries that applications which require open connections through firewalls are becoming increasingly popular.

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Desktop port proliferation a security risk? 2005-07-14
EvilPacket

You can't say either way that you increase or decrease your risk just becuase you open or close a set of ports. That risk is up to the user or the person that is in control of the information assets on that machine. If they don't care it is compromised there is no greater risk. You can say though th...

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Desktop port proliferation a security risk? 2005-07-14
Anonymous

OK, I'm stupid. Explain to me again, WHY should the number of ports open be such a big deal? If these ports are each focussed at a relatively secure application then so what? I mean yes, there will be additional complexity and one more thing to go wrong, but is that really any different from any ...

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Desktop port proliferation a security risk? 2005-07-14
Anonymous

Well, sure opening ports with applications listening adds some risk, depending on application popularity, developers security awareness and patching support.

Lets take Azureus (BitTorrent client) as an example. It is pro-actively checking for updates and applies them on the go. This is included i...

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Desktop port proliferation a security risk? 2005-07-14
Anonymous

I understand that reducing attack area is adding to security. However in order for p2p to work you have to have a listing port. You can't be like Microsoft and just cripple the software and call it secure. The mainline Bit Torrent client is written in a secure language, python. Azurues is also ...

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Security by being encased in concrete... 2005-07-18
Roger

As others have pointed out, opening ports is an essential feature of establishing communications from behind a firewall. Yes, every additional service you choose to run creates some additional theoretical risk, and some create some actual risk (some much more than others). That is a question of indi...

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Desktop port proliferation a security risk? 2005-07-19
linux2linux

The greatest security is not to connect to network.But is it true? In the world, there's no absolute safe at all. Even we can't rely on window's robustness. Why does ask for more towards such p2p softwares....

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