NTL to block port 135

[altis]

According to 'ntl' (Ashley Grossman) here, NTL are going to block port 135.

And about time too.

[MovedGoalPosts]

Originally Posted by altis

According to 'ntl' (Ashley Grossman) here, NTL are going to block port 135.

And about time too.

Why will it take them until the 24th October to complete that?

Yes such action should have been considered a long time ago, by many ISPs not just ntl when the blaster type virus became so rampant. Lets see whether this gives us a speed increas by getting rid of all that useless traffic.

But for those users who do have a legitimate use of port 135, will they have any ability to get ntl not to cut it off for them only?

Originally Posted by MovedGoalPosts

Why will it take them until the 24th October to complete that?

Yes such action should have been considered a long time ago, by many ISPs not just ntl when the blaster type virus became so rampant. Lets see whether this gives us a speed increas by getting rid of all that useless traffic.

But for those users who do have a legitimate use of port 135, will they have any ability to get ntl not to cut it off for them only?

Hmm ...

Originally Posted by ashley g

I was using a program, which I think has been affected by you blocking Port 135!!
This is unlikely. Blocking Port 135 will have absolutely no effect on any offline programs (eg word, windows, printers etc) and will only affect the spread of viruses across the Internet. If, however, the you feel sure a problem is due to the blocking of Port 135, please call ntl: home technical support who will be able to confirm whether or not this is the case.

So...

Customer: errr, hi, I can't access my Exchange server and I think your blocking of port 135 is to blame.
tech: Yes sir, I can confirm that that is the case.
Customer: So, um, what can you do about it?
tech: I can confirm that's the case but that's about it....

Or are any techs about that can say they have been advised otherwise? Because Ashg's FAQs sound extremely unco-operative.

[Shaun]

Towny, after reading about Ash G tonight I cant believe he wrote that FAQ at all I'd be surprised if he could write his own name!

[Tiptoes]

Originally Posted by towny

Hmm ...



So...

Customer: errr, hi, I can't access my Exchange server and I think your blocking of port 135 is to blame.
tech: Yes sir, I can confirm that that is the case.
Customer: So, um, what can you do about it?
tech: I can confirm that's the case but that's about it....

Or are any techs about that can say they have been advised otherwise? Because Ashg's FAQs sound extremely unco-operative.

Looks like you will have to use remote desktop client and/or outlook web access.

Have you tired UltraVNC yet ?

I know there are rafts joining the mailing list, I wondered what all the fuss was about with all these new subscribers now I realise its because of ISPs closing down 135.

[Tiptoes]

What do you mean by †œPort 135ââ‚Âà ‚¬Ãƒâ€šÃ‚ÂÂ�?
If you think of your Internet connection as a television set. You can watch channel 1 to browse the web, channel 3 to receive email, and channel 4 to chat to friends in chat rooms. Imagine when using channel 6, 99% of the time, all you see is white noise (static). This white noise also causes interference with the rest of your television viewing. By disabling channel 6, and moving the corresponding program to channel 8 the detrimental effect it has on the other channels is reduced.

Using this example, †œPort 135ââ‚Âà ‚¬Ãƒâ€šÃ‚ÂÂ� would be the equivalent of Channel 6 and the effects of the current †œWelchia and Blasterââ‚à ‚¬Ã‚ÂÂÂ� viruses, are the white-noise, or interference.

As spoken like true a professional


I like my explanation better seen as nearly everyone including NTL have copied my original advice as I wrote is years ago

[keithwalton]

hmm port 135 has been blocked by plusnet since the outbreak of blaster (within like hours they e-mailed us saying it had been done)
The only thing that uses 135 is rpc which has been patched twice now and still hasnt been fixed.

If we wanted to have the port back open we could ask them and they can do it on a per customer basis as they have firewalls there end.

nice to see nthell are nice and speedy on this one :rollseyes:

K

[Richard M]

I think that news item was only posted so AshG could assert his new "dominance" of .com.

[BBKing]

If we wanted to have the port back open we could ask them and they can do it on a per customer basis as they have firewalls there end.

Don't count on it. I know how it's being done and it isn't firewalls and it won't be switchable per person, unfortunately. Find another port if you really have to, but take it that 135 will be blocked *permanently*. With insecure software so widespread something has to be done to protect the majority from exploits.

[ntluser]

Originally Posted by BBKing

Don't count on it. I know how it's being done and it isn't firewalls and it won't be switchable per person, unfortunately. Find another port if you really have to, but take it that 135 will be blocked *permanently*. With insecure software so widespread something has to be done to protect the majority from exploits.

For the uninitiated like me, what's the significance of blocking port 135?

Which programs use that port?

And if it is being used as a way of blocking viruses surely the virus makers wil merely re-direct their programs to find open ports which you are using that are unblocked.

Surely, if users have properly configured firewalls, anti- virus software and exercise common sense and caution the viruses will be kicked into touch.

Originally Posted by ntluser

For the uninitiated like me, what's the significance of blocking port 135?

Which programs use that port?

M$ Exchange uses it, but Exchange is normally only found running within corporate networks so the blocking should have a minimal impact. Exchange is the example given in ntl's FAQs ... don't know what other apps might use it but the impression being given is 'not many at all'.

And if it is being used as a way of blocking viruses surely the virus makers wil merely re-direct their programs to find open ports which you are using that are unblocked.

For sure they will, for such is the way of virus writers ... and such is the way of M$, that it prolly won't take long to find the next exploit.

Surely, if users have properly configured firewalls, anti- virus software and exercise common sense and caution the viruses will be kicked into touch.

You hit the nail on the head. This is why viruses spread so easily. One of the biggest reasons why certain viruses and hacks work so well is that people don't apply patches for known problems or update their anti-virus software.

Originally Posted by towny

<snip> For sure they will, for such is the way of virus writers ... and such is the way of M$, that it prolly won't take long to find the next exploit.

coming soon ....

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/3196494.stm

[Tiptoes]

Originally Posted by towny

M$ Exchange uses it, but Exchange is normally only found running within corporate networks so the blocking should have a minimal impact. Exchange is the example given in ntl's FAQs ... don't know what other apps might use it but the impression being given is 'not many at all'.

For sure they will, for such is the way of virus writers ... and such is the way of M$, that it prolly won't take long to find the next exploit.

You hit the nail on the head. This is why viruses spread so easily. One of the biggest reasons why certain viruses and hacks work so well is that people don't apply patches for known problems or update their anti-virus software.

So all those home wokers connecting to their works Exhange server for their email are buggered.

[Nemesis]

Originally Posted by Tiptoes

So all those home wokers connecting to their works Exhange server for their email are buggered.

Yep, thats about it.

[downquark1]

Here's a much better solution:

How about microsoft don't have the port open by default???