Security Basics mailing list archives

RE: Securing webmail - changing a port necessary to ensure security?


From: Joey Peloquin <jpelo1 () jcpenney com>
Date: Thu, 12 Feb 2004 09:36:53 -0600

Jennifer,

When configuring webemail (such as owa) that is using https, 
is it better to change the default port (443) to an uncommon 
port (20000)for security reasons?

Running a well-known service on an unregistered port may protect you from
"script-kiddies" looking only at the results from a range-scan (or not even
looking, and simply plugging the results into a tool), but not a determined
cracker that is deliberately targeting you.

You're still susceptible to banner-grabbing and other enumeration
techniques, unless you've taken steps to thwart those as well.

IMO, your time is better spent securing the OS the service is running on,
and the application or service itself, especially if we're talking about
Windows.

Joey Peloquin

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