What is a Network Port?
If an IP address is like the street address of an apartment building, a Port is like the apartment number. When data arrives at a computer, the computer needs to know which application should receive that data. It uses ports to organize the traffic.
Common Ports You Should Know
- Port 80 (HTTP): Used for standard, unencrypted web traffic.
- Port 443 (HTTPS): Used for secure, encrypted web traffic. (This is what you want to see when banking!)
- Port 22 (SSH): Used for secure remote logins by administrators.
- Port 53 (DNS): Used to translate website names (like google.com) into IP addresses.
Why Ports Matter for Security
If a port is “open”, it means a program is actively listening for traffic on that port. Hackers run tools called “Port Scanners” to find open doors into a network. A good firewall blocks access to ports that shouldn’t be exposed to the public.
Knowledge Check
Question 1 of 1Which port is used for secure web browsing (HTTPS)?
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