Opening port 8080

[Fish]

I am looking at the Visual Trading System charting package for Forex, and one of the requirements is that port 8080 is open to receive charts. When I run Shields Up, it tells me all my ports are stealthed, including 8080.

Firstly, is it safe to have port 8080 open? (Instinctively, I feel safer with it closed.)

And secondly, how can you configure the port to be open, and is there a way to safeguard the pc when it is open (proxy servers?)?

 

[Trader333]

It probably will allow data to pass if you allow it. Try using the system first and only worry about changing anything if you cannot get the charts. All ports on my PC are also stealthed but it does not mean they are closed only that access is not allowed unless it is granted.


Paul

 

[oatman]

Stealthing just means that someone scanning at random for a vulnerable machine will miss yours as there is nothing visible.
Here's a list of ports which might interest you.
http://lists.gpick.com/portlist/portlist.htm

 

[Fish]

Thanks for the replies. I do receive the charts, but the data is intermittent and the connection is dropped frequently. Of course, this could be because the data provider is sending dirty data, and has poor server capabilities (lol). The FAQ says ports 80 and 8080 should be open. If I understand this correctly, the ports are open even if they are stealthed?

 

[oatman]

What firewall are you using? Have a look at their forum or Help section.

 

[Fish]

I'm running XP Pro with Windows Firewall enabled.

 

[cashmir]

Brave man to use XP's Firewall i found it was full of holes try Zone Alarm from Zonelabs http://www.zonelabs.com/store/content/catalog/products/sku_list_za.jsp it's free.

Chris