: To see only ports waiting for a connection, use: netstat -an | find "LISTEN" . Using Graphical User Interface (GUI)
PowerShell offers a cleaner, modern way to filter for open ports.
Imagine you have Port 3389 (RDP) open to the internet. A hacker scans Shodan.io, finds your IP, and runs a brute-force attack. If your password is weak, they gain remote desktop control within minutes.
The final column shows the utilizing that port. You can cross-reference this PID in the Windows Task Manager to identify the exact application using the port. Method B: Using PowerShell windows 11 open ports
Leaving unused ports open creates an unnecessary attack surface on your device. Once you no longer need an open port, delete or disable the firewall rule.
A port that rejects or ignores incoming requests.
Used by specific applications and games (e.g., Minecraft servers on Port 25565). : To see only ports waiting for a
What "open ports" means
On the left pane, click on "Inbound Rules" . Create a New Rule: In the right pane, click "New Rule..." . Choose Rule Type: Select "Port" and click Next. Specify Protocol and Port:
What or application prompted your network audit? A hacker scans Shodan
Press the , type cmd , right-click Command Prompt , and select Run as administrator . Type the following command and press Enter : netstat -ano Use code with caution. Understanding the parameters: -a displays all active connections and listening ports.
Click on in the left sidebar, then click New Rule... in the right-hand Actions pane. In the Rule Type step, select Port and click Next . Select the appropriate protocol: TCP or UDP .
Inbound rules control traffic coming from the internet or local network into your PC. Click on in the left-hand pane.