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// Other services

Port 996: vsinet

Port 996 is assigned by IANA to vsinet (vsinet).

996

How vsinet works

Other services
client:996vsinetresponse client:996vsinetresponse

The client sends a request to port 996 and the vsinet service answers.

Transport
TCP · UDP
Exposure risk
not rated depends on the program listening
Encryption
Unknownnot stated by the registry
IANA status
Assigned1 registered service
Range
Well-known (0-1023)
Category
Other services
01 Security

Is port 996 dangerous?

We have no specific security note for port 996. Its risk depends on the program actually listening on it. General advice for other services services:

  • Close the port if nothing on the host needs it.
  • Identify the process that listens on it (commands below) before opening it in a firewall.
  • Expose a service only to the networks that use it.
02 Registry

IANA registry entries for port 996

ServicePortTransportDescriptionReferenceUpdated
vsinet 996 TCP, UDP vsinet - -

// source: IANA service name and port number registry

03 Check it

Which program uses port 996, and is it reachable?

Linux

sudo ss -ltnup 'sport = :996'      # process listening on 996
sudo lsof -nP -i :996

macOS

sudo lsof -nP -i :996

Windows (PowerShell)

Get-NetTCPConnection -LocalPort 996 -State Listen | Select LocalAddress, OwningProcess
Get-NetUDPEndpoint -LocalPort 996
netstat -ano | findstr :996

From another machine

nmap -p 996 -sV <host>
sudo nmap -sU -p 996 <host>
nc -zv <host> 996

Block it in the firewall

sudo ufw deny 996/tcp                                         # Linux (ufw)
New-NetFirewallRule -DisplayName "Block 996" -Direction Inbound -LocalPort 996 -Protocol TCP -Action Block  # Windows
04 FAQ
What is port 996 used for?

Port 996 is assigned by IANA to vsinet (vsinet).

Is port 996 TCP or UDP?

Port 996 is registered for TCP and UDP.

Is it safe to open port 996?

It depends on the program that listens on it. Open it only for a service you know and only to the networks that need it. Close the port if nothing on the host needs it.

How do I check if port 996 is open?

On Linux run "ss -ltnup 'sport = :996'", on macOS "lsof -nP -i :996", and on Windows "netstat -ano | findstr :996" to see the local process. From another machine, "nmap -p 996 <host>" shows whether it is reachable.

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