Why port 3389? and Am I vulnerable?

[gusbrunston]

[tt]
Hi:

I just finished changing from cable to T1. It took me awhile, but I got the IP's and the DNS's set, and the network is working, and I can access the boxes at the office with my computer at home . I could never have done this without finding the forwarding port number 3389 on thread595-739535 in Tek-Tips.

Now I'm curious, why port 3389? How many ports are there?

I'm also curious about security. Have I now created a hole in a firewall that leaves my office network vulnerable? Or would one need a lot more information to tell that?

Any comments, suggestions, would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers,[/tt]

[tt]Gus Brunston - Access2000(DAO)
Skill level based on 1-10: 7
Webmaster: www.rentdex.com[/tt]

 

[bcastner]

It does not have to be, and perhaps should not be, 3389 as it is so commonly used.

You can change the Host "listening" port:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;306759

Just remember to make the same change on the client:

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=304304