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first of all i just joined so hello all 🙂
i was just wondering….i have windows XP with the built in firewall activated, and every time i want to send a file through yahoo messenger i have to disconnect the firewall for the file to send successfully. Is there any way of changing this? I chat with family quite a bit and like to send them photos and stuff and it gets annoying having to disconnect the firewall every time i want to send something. If anyone has any ideas they would be much appreciated. And also sorry if its something really obvious I’ve only just started using win XP and find it confusing at times!! 😮Hi,
I’m not too sure how XP Firewall works, but it’s no where near the best firewall available to you. I think it just blocks everything coming in, which would include connections incoming to take files.
File sharing uses port 80 (HTTP) by default to share files, it opens a server, sends the url to the other person, which messenger intercepts and acts upon. So your firewall needs to allow server access on port 80.
check the firewall setting and configure it according to your need.check which port the yahoo file sharing is required and configure your firewall to allow communication through that port.
If I open that port does it put me at any more risk of getting trojans and the like? If it does I think I’ll just leave it and put up with deactivating the firewall each time I send a file.
Port 80, which Yahoo! Messenger uses for file transfer is the HTTP port. Now unless the Yahoo! Messenger server software has a serious error which makes it accept files, you are safe.
If you close firewall, you’re certainly not safe, you are much much worse off, because that means every port with a service on your PC will be open. If you don’t have the RPC patch, this means within minutes you’d me most likely infected with the worm or one of its variants (took my PC about 1 minute after dialling in to become infected after a reformat, with no firewall or patches installed).
Open 1 port – 1port open, with a (i would hope) safe HTTP server running.
Deactivate Firewall – all ports open!Thanks for that info, Freddy. I learnt my lesson when I got the blaster virus!! I will open that port and give it a go. Thankyou!
i would suggest the use of good antivirus when u deactivate your firewall or configure your firewall to use port 80 to send or receive files.
Is there an echo in here? Why do I keep reading the same answers twice.
If you turn off your firewall, there isn’t really much (if anything) antivirus software can do against an attack on your ports. Although you should always be running antivirus software whether you have your firewall on or off at all times.
i mean to say use the antivirus during transfering files not for the attacks on ports.sorry for trouble.
Slightly off topic here, but I would suggest not using XP’s built in firewall at all. It is very selective and will not block Microsofts “big brother” tactics such sending reports to Microsoft of media files you have played recently on WMP. Best to use a 3rd party application. I personally use Zone Alarm, it’s free from http://www.zonelabs.com. It works fine with file sending on Yahoo Messenger.
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