microsoft.public.windowsxp.security_admin

Additional Port Strengthening

*********Instructions On How To Close Port 445 *************

SMB (Server Message Block) - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Server_Message_Block

1) Open Registry Editor

2) Navigate to this key
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SYSTEM\ CurrentControlSet \ Services \ NetBT \ Parameters

3) Select & modify the entry named TransportBindName

4) The default entry will be \Device\ ---- delete that entry so you are
left with only TransportBindName with no value

5) Restart computer

6) Verify,
- open command prompt
- netstat -an

You should see Port 445 is now closed

From the methods shown. By closing the ports at the Operating System level.
In theory you could leave those ports open on your firewall and there would
be no response from these ports that were disabled by tweaking services and
registry. because the mechanism that controls those ports have been turned
off/shut down / locked down and or disabled.

Tho to be on the safe side, keep those ports blocked at the firewall layer
as well. So now you have a dual layer of security protecting those ports. :)