windows and sockets



Stavros Macrakis writes:
> On 9/21/07, *Vadim V. Zhytnikov* <vvzhy at mail.ru <mailto:vvzhy at mail.ru>> 
> wrote:
> 
>     Both wxMaxima and xmaxima use sockets to communicate with Maxima kernel.
>     It is not required to disable firewall completely to run xmaxima and
>     wxMaxima.  It is enough to add Maxima to firewall exceptions list.
>     It is absolutely safe. 
> 
> 
> How does this work?  Once I've set the firewall exception, couldn't an 
> evildoer connect to my Maxima process from anywhere on the Internet and 
> execute arbitrary Maxima/Lisp code?
> 

Surely my words "absolutely safe" is too strong. Situation largely
depends on the firewall program and it's proper configuration.
In built-in Windows XP firewall you can specify concrete executable
and restrict domain of allowed connections to local computer.

-- 
      Vadim V. Zhytnikov

       <vvzhy at mail.ru>
      <vvzhy at netorn.ru>