Hi! I'm assuming a certain number of things here, if they are wrong,please let me know .
I've been reading some stuff (mainly howto's) about security and i'd like to ask some simple questions :
1- Can one use iptables to build both filtering and router firewalls?
2- If filtering firewalls don't work easily with dynamic IP why and how is it used then ?
3- Why would one use a static IP adress instead of a dynamic IP, since the second is safer ?
4- How can i know which open ports there are in my computer ? ( from what i understand any given program that can comunicate with the "outside" is a open port , so basically i wanted to know where and who are these programs )
thank you for your time

1. What's the difference?
2. They do work easily with dynamic IP.
3. No, it isn't.
4. man netstat

Regards

thanks for the quick and "economic" reply .

BTW what does this mean then? (regarding question 3)
"As soon as you have a stable address and a permanent connection, you lose the 'obscurity' advantage that a dynamic IP and sporadic connection provides. You must install a real 'front door'."

taken from "Introduction to Intrusion Protection and Network Security"

Obscurity, referring to the phrase "security by obscurity is no security". Try www.google.com/search?q=security+by+obscurity

thanks a lot