Help - Proxys !!!

Cable Guy · 25-06-2004, 23:52

Hi im looking for help from someone that knows even something about proxys. Thing is i was using an ntl proxy and i checked my firewall with a few online firewall tests (symantec etc and a few others). It came back telling me that all but 3 of my ports were closed, so 3 were open apparently, the rest were closed and none were stealthed. So i thought i would remove the proxy and try the tests again and now its coming back telling me in all of them that my computer is fully stealthed and is invisible to all on the internet etc and when i try and send pings it blocks them which is good i imagine. Anyway after all this i just want to know is it safer to use a proxy even if it comes back telling you some ports are open and none are stealthed or is it better to just go with my own ip address which is fully stealthed and locked down ?

Any info would be appreciated - thanks

(ps. i know this may be a stupid question and the answer seems obvious to me that i would probably be better using my own, but i would appreciate any comments - upsides and downsides to each option if possible)

Mal · 25-06-2004, 23:55

Don't certain scans, scan the proxy server, not your computer?

Cable Guy · 26-06-2004, 00:05

So the proxy could be rubbish then and even if it was rubbish and anything got through my pc would be stealthed and would block it ? Is there any real reason for using proxys anyway, i have only been using it because it was on there after setting up ntl and have only just started doing some digging and learning a little more about computers.

Mal · 26-06-2004, 00:07

If Bill C was still here or BBKing here, they could tell you...

carlingman · 26-06-2004, 01:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cable Guy

Hi im looking for help from someone that knows even something about proxys. Thing is i was using an ntl proxy and i checked my firewall with a few online firewall tests (symantec etc and a few others). It came back telling me that all but 3 of my ports were closed, so 3 were open apparently, the rest were closed and none were stealthed. So i thought i would remove the proxy and try the tests again and now its coming back telling me in all of them that my computer is fully stealthed and is invisible to all on the internet etc and when i try and send pings it blocks them which is good i imagine. Anyway after all this i just want to know is it safer to use a proxy even if it comes back telling you some ports are open and none are stealthed or is it better to just go with my own ip address which is fully stealthed and locked down ?

Any info would be appreciated - thanks

(ps. i know this may be a stupid question and the answer seems obvious to me that i would probably be better using my own, but i would appreciate any comments - upsides and downsides to each option if possible)

Hi cableguy,

Which specific port numbers are affected ??

As long as your patched up with the latest Windows updates and you mention you have tried various online tests etc it may be the particular site just scaremongering.

Chris W · 26-06-2004, 02:06

trying seeing which proxy you are going through using www.all-nettools.com and running the proxy test.

Post back the results- exculding your own ip. If there is a proxy server, it is likely that the tests that you have done are testing the proxy rather than your ip.

If you pm me your ip address i can run a port scan (with your express permission) to see which ports on your pc/ router are open/ listening/ closed/ stealthed.

MB

carlingman · 26-06-2004, 02:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cable Guy

So the proxy could be rubbish then and even if it was rubbish and anything got through my pc would be stealthed and would block it ? Is there any real reason for using proxys anyway, i have only been using it because it was on there after setting up ntl and have only just started doing some digging and learning a little more about computers.

Hi again cableguy,

One other thing to bear in mind is that proxies as such use two different ports, for incoming traffic from your browser or http traffic it is usually 8080 or 3128.

Then the outgoing trafiic which is used to pull in the information from the actual web server is normally directed through port 80.

Its late and am going from memory etc but someone will no doubt correct me if I am wrong.

Take a look here for the full pros and cons of using proxies.

.

carlingman · 26-06-2004, 02:13

Ah Sh1te,

Just noticed I have cross posted with monkeybreaths information.

Cableguy I suggest you skip my info and listen to monkeybreath as he has far more knowledge that little ole humble me.

Monkeybreath sorry

Chris W · 26-06-2004, 02:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by carlingman

Ah Sh1te,

Just noticed I have cross posted with monkeybreaths information.

Cableguy I suggest you skip my info and listen to monkeybreath as he has far more knowledge that little ole humble me.

Monkeybreath sorry

nope... what you have given is good information

i am not going into all the details of how proxy servers work, it is far too late for that! excellent link that you posted though!

MB