Anti-Virus checking.

[Daniel70]

Tonight I've booted my Win7 Installation and updated my Anti-Virus, AVG
Free, and, after doing a complete HD Scan, it tells me I have a network
problem in that my "Device is accessible from the Internet .... Open
ports on this device that could allow attackers to remotely access it".

a. Should I be really, really worried?? and
b. How do I fix it ... remembering that I'd need (some) open ports to
access the Internet??

Any suggestions, please, ;-)

[Paul]

Tonight I've booted my Win7 Installation and updated my Anti-Virus, AVG Free, and, after doing a complete HD Scan, it tells me I have a network problem in that my "Device is accessible from the Internet .... Open ports on this device that could allow attackers to remotely access it".
a.    Should I be really, really worried?? and
b.    How do I fix it ... remembering that I'd need (some) open ports to access the Internet??
Any suggestions, please, ;-)

"AVG Network Inspector alert: Device is accessible from the internet"

https://support.avg.com/SupportArticleView?l=en&urlname=hns-wan-access

"You can verify exactly which port numbers are open via the Network Inspector results screen"

Paul

[Daniel70]

Post by Paul

Tonight I've booted my Win7 Installation and updated my Anti-Virus, AVG Free, and, after doing a complete HD Scan, it tells me I have a network problem in that my "Device is accessible from the Internet .... Open ports on this device that could allow attackers to remotely access it".
a.    Should I be really, really worried?? and
b.    How do I fix it ... remembering that I'd need (some) open ports to access the Internet??
Any suggestions, please, ;-)

"AVG Network Inspector alert: Device is accessible from the internet"
https://support.avg.com/SupportArticleView?l=en&urlname=hns-wan-access
"You can verify exactly which port numbers are open via the Network Inspector results screen"
Paul

Ah!! O.K., I'll have to try to remember this when next I'm in my Win7
incarnation!

Thanks

[Newyana2]

Post by Daniel70
Tonight I've booted my Win7 Installation and updated my Anti-Virus, AVG
Free, and, after doing a complete HD Scan, it tells me I have a network
problem in that my "Device is accessible from the Internet .... Open
ports on this device that could allow attackers to remotely access it".
a.    Should I be really, really worried?? and
b.    How do I fix it ... remembering that I'd need (some) open ports to
access the Internet??
Any suggestions, please, ;-)

Have you considered a firewall? I've installed firewall software
ever since Win98. The typical Windows configuration is designed
to function as a corporate workstation. That means it trusts the
network but doesn't trust the person using the computer. A personal
computer is the opposite: You trust yourself, but not the network.

Problems come in when things like file sharing and Remote
Desktop are enabled, yet there's no real security. If you install
a firewall, and ideally disable remote functionality, then anyone
trying to access your computer remotely will get no response.

I'm currently using Simplewall in Win10. It's compatible with Win7 SP1.
Simplewall is a well designed, clear program. It's also free. When something
wants to go out it will ask you to approve or disapprove. Once you have
it set up you don't need to do much. Ley email and browser go out.
Block most things that you're not sure about. Incoming connections
that were not requested will be automatically dropped.

[Daniel70]

Post by Daniel70
Tonight I've booted my Win7 Installation and updated my Anti-Virus,
AVG Free, and, after doing a complete HD Scan, it tells me I have
a network problem in that my "Device is accessible from the
Internet .... Open ports on this device that could allow attackers
to remotely access it".
a. Should I be really, really worried?? and b. How do I fix
it ... remembering that I'd need (some) open ports to access the
Internet??
Any suggestions, please, ;-)

Have you considered a firewall? I've installed firewall software ever
since Win98. The typical Windows configuration is designed to
function as a corporate workstation. That means it trusts the network
but doesn't trust the person using the computer. A personal computer
is the opposite: You trust yourself, but not the network.
Problems come in when things like file sharing and Remote Desktop are
enabled, yet there's no real security. If you install a firewall, and
ideally disable remote functionality, then anyone trying to access
your computer remotely will get no response.
I'm currently using Simplewall in Win10. It's compatible with Win7
SP1. Simplewall is a well designed, clear program. It's also free.
When something wants to go out it will ask you to approve or
disapprove. Once you have it set up you don't need to do much. Ley
email and browser go out. Block most things that you're not sure
about. Incoming connections that were not requested will be
automatically dropped.

I think I did have a Firewall installed a long time ago, maybe Win98 on
my Desktop Computer.

Thanks for the response.

[Paul in Houston TX]

Post by Daniel70
Tonight I've booted my Win7 Installation and updated my Anti-Virus, AVG
Free, and, after doing a complete HD Scan, it tells me I have a network
problem in that my "Device is accessible from the Internet .... Open
ports on this device that could allow attackers to remotely access it".
a.    Should I be really, really worried?? and
b.    How do I fix it ... remembering that I'd need (some) open ports to
access the Internet??
Any suggestions, please, ;-)

If you want to check your comp's ports then run Shields Up.
Click the port check boxes.
https://www.grc.com/x/ne.dll?bh0bkyd2

[Daniel70]

Post by Paul in Houston TX

Post by Daniel70
Tonight I've booted my Win7 Installation and updated my Anti-Virus,
AVG Free, and, after doing a complete HD Scan, it tells me I have a
network problem in that my "Device is accessible from the Internet
.... Open ports on this device that could allow attackers to remotely
access it".
a.    Should I be really, really worried?? and
b.    How do I fix it ... remembering that I'd need (some) open ports
to access the Internet??
Any suggestions, please, ;-)

If you want to check your comp's ports then run Shields Up.
Click the port check boxes.
https://www.grc.com/x/ne.dll?bh0bkyd2

Thanks for that.