Closing the PPTP Port Under Windows 2000?

phnork asks: "I have asked many skilled Win2K users and networking specialists how to close Port 1723 in my Win2K system. I have searched the net unsuccessfully, browsed news groups, asked my ISP techies, and even asked my wife. But, although all agree the port normally used for PPTP (VPN) should not be open, no one has taken the time to document how nor post the solution where it can be found. In fact, I have found that most security issues that abound in the Wide World of Windows occur because those in the know, do not. Not even Microsoft! If they did, the solution would be as easy and straight forward as setting up a printer. Networks and security are still relegated to the nether worlds of the 80s where we used to have problems with every printer installation and computers were hauled to a grinding stop by the inability of the protocol lords to arrive at a consensus. But, maybe now the solution is at hand. Now that I have asked for help maybe someone will come forward with those super words, 'Try this...'." What other hard-to-close ports have you found open in your Win2k install. What did you have to do to close them?

Comments

Re:Fuckin terrorist!

[LittleBigLui]

No, teh H4x0r that broke into your machine through port 1723 did.

PPTP?!?

[Anonymous Coward]

Couldn't they think of a better name? That always sounded like a restroom on an Indian reservation to me...

Good luck

[rixstep]

Good luck, my friend. I hope someone in here has a good tip. But this biz about not even MS themselves knowing: I remember a few years back when a writer for the MSJ, aware of how hard it was to find anyone in MS who knew anything, spent a day on the campus chasing down people who might know why and how byte offset 12 in the VFAT Unicode directory entries were formatted (something like that). He gave up at 5 PM after a whole day at it - with no answer in sight.

Re:OT, but of interest?

[twilight30]

Thanks Bishop. It worked. Amazing how the simplest things can evade me sometimes ;)

Help, Ask Slashdot!

[duffbeer703]

I purchased some gasoline and returned to the drivers seat of my car. I looked in the side view mirror, and to my horror, the fuel tank door was still open!

There is no documentation anywhere about how to return the fuel tank door to the "closed" position. I even called the dealer and they just laughed and said that nothing is wrong... please help!

Closing Ports

[MountainLogic]

The fastest way to shut down a port is an air strike. This only tends to work in the sort term as the government can rebuild. It may take weeks or so of steaming, but mining is a much better long term way to shut a port down. If you just want to take control of a port I'd send in a SEAL team to take out key defences then follow up with the Marines.

Of course, the only way to be sure is to try and cut pay to the longshoremen. Nothing will shut down a port tighter than a longshoremen's strike.

Oh, wait. This is slashdot.ORG not slashdot.MIL.

Never mind....

Easy fix.

[sharkey]

Look at the back of the PC. You'll see a fan grill next to a thick black or gray cable with a large plug. Remove said cable, and the port is secured.