Is net tcp port sharing a good thing or TERRIBLE SEC RISK?

[tidybear12]

I saw last night that nettcp port sharing is running, and can't even be stopped. I don't remember ever seeing this, and research doesn't turn up anything terribly worrisome about it, except, so many things are Network related when there actually is no network to speak of. Just because several people in the household share an internet connection doesn't mean we share files or printers or anything. We do not. So, that being the case, it should be SAFE to shut this off (I guess as admin I'll be able to) but

• is it a good idea?
• Is it actually safer when a port is shared because then less ports need to be open, or
• does sharing mode make this port more vulnerable to hackers?

 

[Nazem]

normally it is disabled by default, depending the settings in your router* it can be a security risk.
firewalls are configured by default to allow traffic on TCP port 80
*many routers can be easily hacked



to disable you can try

1) Cmd as administrator type

net stop NetTcpPortSharing


Next time you reboot it will be enabled again, so


open regedit navigate to
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\services\NetTcpPortSharing
and locate "Start" registry key
Double click on Start and edit the value:

Change Startup type :

Automatic - 2
Manual - 3
Disabled - 4
Automatic (Delayed Start) - 2


Or try start type Msconfig in the search box.
go to Services tab, uncheck Net.tcp Port Sharing

 

[tidybear12]

Thanks Nazem. (My router's firewall is set at the highest level, if that means anything.) But as for the different ports, are you saying that as long as I leave port 80 open, (plus, 445 I think for the VPN), then all the traffic that needs to go in and out is going to be just fine?



And if all traffic uses 80, and that's ok, then I HAVE to leave port sharing open. If I disable it, I need to leave a whole bunch open for different things.