[xaros]

First of all,a sorry to the admins if this question should be better posted in the "Networking" sub-section or something-i really didn't knew how to choose....
Question is:

For security reasons,i have disabled the following in my XP SP 1 box:
Network Connections-....File and Printer Sharing
Network Connections-....NetBios over TCP/IP
TCP/IP NetBios Helper Service
Server Service
Computer Browser Service

So,ports 137,138 and 139 are closed.Only 445 is still open.
While googling,almost everyone mentioned setting the extra registry key
"HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\NetBT\Parameters" to null,
some others also mentioned Device Manager-Show Hidden Devices-
NetBios over TCP/IP-Driver-Startup Type:Disabled.
What nobody mentioned is what happens if someone closes also the port 445:
yes,i won't be able to share my stuff
(big deal,ssl-ftp or ssh cover me for that),but just in case,
will i still be able to map external shares in xp/2000 boxes,
or access linux samba shares?
What i mean is:closing the final port 445 prevents someone from accessing my box,
or does it also render me unable to access external shares,either win32 or *nix?

Thanks in advance for any reply...i'll be grateful,
i've done too much searching without any specific answers...

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i say close it and see what happens...you can always open it back up....(sorry...i like to live on the wild side)

[dsenette]

i say close it and see what happens...you can always open it back up....(sorry...i like to live on the wild side)