Guys...my knowledge of computer networks is quite limited, but i do know the thumb rule: "Open ports r not a good thing!". Ideally client nodes (our PCs) on a network (Internet) should have all the standard ports such as HTTP:80, TELNET:23, SMTP:25, etc...working in stealth mode.
And Akash port 80 is not for client PCs to access websites. Programs such as web browsers running on ur PC do not run from port 80. Its the server software that runs on port 80 which ur browser conects to when u surf the web.
I dunno how far this is possible but the fact that if ur
router's port 80 is open u could actually screw-up someone else's router configuration (and possibly crash his router software!!) simply by typing the router's Internet IP address in ur browser...that is ofcourse if the fellow at the other end has not changed his router password from the default "admin" to something else.
Coming to think of it...it might even be possible to access the LAN clients connected on the router by some kind of a hacking technique such as IP spoofing....
Guys I'm not really worried abt viruses n shitty adware or spywares, but the possibility that ur PC can be turned into a zombie for various malicious activity for which u cud land up in trouble.
A possible scenario: A freak hacks into ur PC thru ur router's inviting open ports n from there launches DOS(Denial Of Service) attack or DDOS(Distributed DOS) attack or simply hacks into someone else's computer thereby making ur PC a zombie. And all this while 'our' attacker is blissfully anonymous bcoz it is ur IP address that is being used in the illegal activity.
This is not just some scenario cooked up in my head. Stuff like this has happened. FYI the US military top secret network was broken into using a similar technique. I don't think even a firewall running on ur PC would be able to protect u from an IP spoofing attack and btw
Windows firewall can't be really be counted as a firewall!!
If you wanna check out which all ports are open on ur router u cud run the Shields Up test on the website: www.grc.com
It'll give u a detailed info abt the ports of ur router.