Stealth mode enabled but still pingable

Question

Stealth mode enabled but still pingable

My friend is concerned about online security. She has her iMac running the newest Snow Leopard set up with "Stealth Mode" enabled under Scurity/Firewall/Advanced. But at "Shields Up" and from Network Utility she is still pingable. I thought stealth mode made you "invisible" on the internet and non-pingable.
Could someone help me understand this? Thanks.
John

Mac Pro, iMac, Macbook Pro, Powerbook G4, Mac OS X (10.6.2)

Posted on Mar 13, 2010 3:14 PM

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Answer 1

Mar 13, 2010 3:23 PM in response to John Baughman

Check one more time to make sure that Stealth Mode is actually enabled.

For me, ShieldsUp gives me a solid field of green (I'm performing this scan). When I ping myself, I get them all timed-out. Try pinging her computer from another on the network.

In addition, what router does she use? How does she get online?

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Answer 2

Mar 13, 2010 3:40 PM in response to musicwind95

She has checked twice to confirm that Stealth Mode is enabled. ShieldsUp gives her solid green but shows at the bottom that her scan "failed" because she is pingable. I am able to ping her from my computer here in Utah (she is in Louisiana) and she can ping herself via Network Utility.

She is using an Apple Airport Extreme base station as a router.
John

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Answer 3

Mar 13, 2010 6:17 PM in response to John Baughman

On my old router I also get a "pingable" result, but I cannot ping myself through Network Utility.

On my new router, I don't get a "pingable" result. I'm pretty sure it has something to do with the firewall that is or is not built into the router. I wouldn't think that the AE has a built-in firewall.

As long as she makes sure she has a long, secure, password, and doesn't take unnecessary risks, she should be safe from attacks.

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