How to close open ports besides a FW

[Sniper14]

How can I close open ports on my PC other than a software FW?

[lisaj]

two ways (assuming you're using Windows): 1. A hardware firewall (though presumably you're aware of this one...) 2. If you're using an NT based OS (NT/2K/XP), defining ports that are allowed using your network configuration...

[moonacre]

Ports are closed by default. To be open then something must hold them open. So, to close a port, close the program that is using the port. Certain ports are reserved for particular use such as ftp, http etc. For all other programs windows allocates the first available port after 1024 (if I remember correctly). If you want to restrict which ports are used and indeed if they are used then the only way to do it is with software such as a software firewall or a physical device such as a hardware firewall (which actually is also software based). The question is why do you want to close ports and what is wrong with using a firewall?

[mattie]

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