Security gain from NAT

Mon Jun 4 19:04:00 UTC 2007

Joe Abley wrote:
>
>
> On 4-Jun-2007, at 14:32, Jim Shankland wrote:
>
>> Shall I do the experiment again where I set up a Linux box
>> at an RFC1918 address, behind a NAT device, publish the root
>> password of the Linux box and its RFC1918 address, and invite
>> all comers to prove me wrong by showing evidence that they've
>> successfully logged into the Linux box?
>
> Perhaps you should run a corresponding experiment whereby you set up a 
> linux box with a globally-unique address, put it behind a firewall 
> which blocks all incoming traffic to that box, and issue a similar 
> invitation.
>
> Do you think the results will be different?
I fear a somewhat more cynical person could interpret the results of 
such an experiment to mean that NAT is as good as a firewall ;)

S