Q: What is a port?
A: Ports are connection portals to a computer. Each communication needs to originate from a port on one computer and go to a port on another computer to establish a connection. There are over 65,000 ports available to a computer. Certain services use standard ports to establish a connection and other programs may pick up the first port your operating system assigns to them. For a detailed list of assigned and unassigned ports click here.

Q: What is port blocking?
A: Port blocking is the prevention of a given communication on a specific port before it reaches your computer.

Q: Why is Knology blocking ports?
A: It allows Knology to prevent potentially harmful or unwanted access to your computer and to better control the traffic within our network.

Q: What ports will Knology be blocking?
A: Knology will be blocking the following ports:
135 tcp/udp
137 tcp/udp
138 tcp/udp
139 tcp/udp
445 tcp
593 tcp
4444 tcp

Knology will also be blocking communications destined to port 80 on our cable modem network and inbound communications on port 25. Customers will still be able to send mail through to other mail servers on port 25.

Q: What if I have a web and/or a mail server?
A: Our customers that have web and mail servers on our network will need a static IP address or setup port forwarding as a “work around” in order for these servers to function properly.

Q: What if I need a port unblocked?
A: Only port 80 for Internet and port 25 for mail will be unblocked for those with a static IP address. None of the other above-mentioned ports will be opened for any reason.

Q: How do I get a static IP address?
A: Just call technical support at 1-888-745-2888. Please have the MAC address of the device you will be connecting to your cable modem ready.

Q: How did Knology decide to block just these ports?
A: These ports are most commonly used by viruses, harmful programs, and hackers to access and compromise your system.