The reason for a Port Scan is to scan an IP Address for port connections, by sending a simple packet of information and getting a return from the target computer system.

A Port Scan does not allow anyone to "hack" into your computer system. All it does is allow someone to see what services (if any) you are running on your computer system. This is sometimes done by your own ISP.

To understand what a Port Scan is, you must first understand what PORTS are.

Ports are the connection portals (doorways) on your computer system. On the TCP/IP Stack of a computer system (which is connected to the Internet), there are over 65,000 available ports, that the system and remote systems (servers) can use to communicate with your computer system. So basically, if you had no open ports on your computer, you would not be able to connect to the Internet.

The port numbers start from 1 and go all the way up to 65,535. So, when you visit a site (making an HTTP Web request with your browser), you are trying to contact a machine on port 80. Email uses ports 110 and 111. In fact, every type of Internet Application uses a specific port or ports.

Why do I keep getting warning messages from my Firewall?

This does not necessarily mean that you are being hacked. Most Firewall Applications are usually pre-configured and allow the common ports access to the Internet. It is when the uncommon ports are being scanned, that you get warning messages from your Firewall Application.

Is there a way to stop Port Scanning?

Not really. Although Port Scanning is performed by Hackers, it is also used in system networking. Hackers use this method to obtain information about target computer systems, while networking professionals and security analysts obtain the same information to secure and propagate information between systems.

It is important to know that there are hundreds, if not thousands of computer systems online at any given time that are vulnerable to attack and yours could be one of them, which is why you always need to use a Firewall, even if you do occasionally have to endure warning messages.


How to report a Hacker