Re: Would you pay more ...

[Dave Dearinger <daved () mdon-line com>]

As my first post to this list and a paid network administrator I would say 
that I would not pay more myself to have a feature limited internet 
connection. I definitely balk at the idea that having the full range of 
addressable ports would cost more, but sadly this is more often true that 
not. "You want full access to the internet?You want to host your own 
server? You will have to buy our bussiness package, 4x the cost, same 
amount of bandwidth, but we allow you to host a server, or for an 
additional fee we will host a server for you.". I am capable of configuring 
my own openBSD firewall and filtering traffic passing through ports.
Now having said that if somebody was to come to market with such a service 
one of the things I would like to see built in. A simple background service 
would be required to monitor SMTP communications to have a user click a 
second button to allow SMTP communications out. Messages that don't get 
authorized within a set time gets binned and a 1 line message that you 
failed to authorize a outgoing email. Tell the people it's for their own 
security, like signing for a package.
From my own experience it is hard to get people to conceptualize how 
internet communications take place. People get lost in the technical jargon 
and metaphors can be more damaging to understanding if they are poorly 
thought through. Blocking ports by default creates a disconnection 
(unintentional pun) between your customers who don't understand that the 
could reach google but they mysteriously can't message Auntie Margaret with 
the new IM app. Even as a network administrator sometimes it can be 
difficult to anticipate what ports need to be opened for a particular 
client app as not every company is terribly forthcoming about how network 
capable apps communicate.
In the end paying me more to configure a proper firewall would be more 
beneficial. Or...
How about a firewalling equivalent to Habitat for Humanity, Port Filtering 
for People. A charitable organization that could collect tax deductible 
donations to install firewalls on underprivileged home networks. Or...
Maybe it just time for me to go home...

-Dave Dearinger
-Network Administrator
-MD-Online Inc.
-daved () mdon-line com
-1-888-397-3434
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At 02:56 PM 7/2/2004 -0400, Jeff wrote:
> Regarding standard consumer broadband connections ...
>
> Would you pay more to only have the following destination ports open
> to the internet originating from your broadband modem:
>
>      tcp  21 - ftp
>      tcp  22 - ssh
>      tcp  25 - smtp
> tcp, udp  53 - dns
>      tcp  80 - www
>      tcp 110 - pop3
>      tcp 119 - nntp
>      udp 123 - ntp
>      tcp 443 - secure www
>
> (Arguments for/against specific ports solicited. I purposely left
> some out that I don't use. Curious how significant they are to
> others. IMAP4 and icmp protocols come to mind)
>
> ALTERNATIVELY, would you like it if this was the STANDARD package and
> additional ports were considered optional, and required payment.
>
> LASTLY, this could start out as the NEW Secure way to go! It simply
> requires that your existing cable modem be upgraded (replaced) at a
> cost of $50-$75. All new installations would recieve these as part
> of the std pkg.
>
> (I know some small businesses that would LOVE to have this. I know
> because they've called me to resolve some "weird problems" and look
> at me funny when I tell them that they should have had a firewall all
> along.)
>
> I would REALLY like to hear from those of you that work in the ISP
> field. I have always been on the receiving end of an ISP -- never
> worked in that trench. But I suspect that this type of firewall could
> be built into every single cable/dsl modem used at little expense.
> Indeed, could save lots of money on bandwidth.
>
> Consider Grandma now ... she typically isn't a gamer and need other
> ports open. Nor does she work at home and require a vpn. BUT she is
> the MOST likely to get hit by some exploit, and it's her damned box
> (x 1,000,000) uselessly eating up bandwidth because some smart-aleck
> *&#$ing script kiddie bas(*&#$
>
> .... ohm-yelli-mon ... ohm-yelli-mon ... OK, ok, better.
>
>
> Jeff


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