Is it okay to allow any and all TCP and UDP activity for a program?

Question

Changing some firewall settings to allow Garry's Mod to work with Kaspersky, and I'm wondering, is it alright to allow TCP and UDP activity for an application? That's safe as long as it's a trusted app, right? The problem is I can't connect to my friend's server that he's hosting, but I can connect to internet servers.

In a nutshell: Is it okay to allow any TCP and UDP activity for a certain app if I'm sure the app is safe? And why wouldn't I be able to connect to my friend's server, unless it was on his end? Thanks.

Answer 1

If you're sure that app is safe, yes it is okay.

Answer 2

I guess it would be safe if you know the application is safe, and you probably can't connect to your friends server because you need to allow ports to connect to it..

Answer 3

Yes if it is a trusted application it is safe to let it use TCP and UDP the only time it is a problem is when the application seems a little shady. Keep in mind you can always disable that appliction from using the internet when you don't want it to. I recommend for any application you download scan it for viruses even if it is trusted, if you do this every time you shouldn't have a problem with malware/viruses.

To answer the friends server part of the problem if you can connect to internet server with no problems. I would guess that the problem is on his end he probably doesn't have the correct ports open on his router or computer.

Good Luck.

Answer 4

make sure you have the correct IP address to your friends server. Make sure it is the WAN address and not his LAN address.

And you should be ok to open TCP and UDP for the application. But it still make you vulnerable. But it is unlikey you would be targeted.