Incoming Connections?

shelleyrae · 05-02-2010, 06:53 AM

I am about halfway through adding my collection to Calibre to use on my ipod with Stanza - I have not transmitted anything yet - just trying to get my 1000+ collection sorted.
I recieved a popup from McAfee today (after about 2 days of solid use) warning me of Calibre trying to accept incoming connections.
I couldnt find anything that told me why this would be happening and Im a bit concerned about the possibility of hackers finding their way in.
Is this normal? What would Calibre be trying to accept?
Are there any security risks? Thanks for any answers

DoctorOhh · 05-02-2010, 07:40 AM

I don't run it but if you had the content server running, it would obviously be accepting some connections. The best way to set things up from a security standpoint will hopefully be answered by others.

Another time it will accept connections would be when itis fetching news.

itimpi · 05-02-2010, 08:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dwanthny

Another time it will accept connections would be when itis fetching news.

I would expect these to be outgoing connections? Only the Content Server should need incoming connections.

Note that if Stanza is going to eb used as the e-Reading device, then you would almost certainly want the Content Server to be running to be able to transfer books to Stanza (the USB cable is not an option in this case). When running the Content Server, then calibre needs to be able to accept incoming requests from Stanza for book catalogs and books.

shelleyrae · 05-02-2010, 12:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by itimpi

I would expect these to be outgoing connections? Only the Content Server should need incoming connections.

Note that if Stanza is going to eb used as the e-Reading device, then you would almost certainly want the Content Server to be running to be able to transfer books to Stanza (the USB cable is not an option in this case). When running the Content Server, then calibre needs to be able to accept incoming requests from Stanza for book catalogs and books.

I get that outgoing would be required - what i query is that McAfee identified incoming as stated in the screen shot.
So I guess i need to know in what instances would the calibre server require to connect with my PC, without me initiating anything?

kovidgoyal · 05-02-2010, 12:10 PM

The content server accepts incoming connections, it has to to function. If you are using Stanza, the stanza will be trying to connect to the content server on your computer, which is an incoming connection.

itimpi · 05-02-2010, 12:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shelleyrae

So I guess i need to know in what instances would the calibre server require to connect with my PC, without me initiating anything?

I think there may be a misconception here! We are talkinga bout the Calibre Content Server (not the Calibre server on the internet) which is part of the Calibre software running on your PC. This allows Calibre to act as a server to software such as Stanza so that Stanza can obtain a catalog of the books in your Stanza library and then request the ones you pick to be downloaded to Stanza on the iPhone.

Whether the Calibre Content Server is run or not is configured under Caliber Preferences->Content Sertver. However as was said earlier you will need this to be running to enable the transfer of books between Stanza and Calibre.

shelleyrae · 05-02-2010, 08:32 PM

Thanks. Now to finish catalouging so i can actually get them on ther are start reading

shelleyrae · 05-07-2010, 02:04 AM

Just to update - the content server wasn't running at the time - which is why I was concerned - havent had it reoccur - even when I was running the server to transfer. Ran a full check on my computer and couldnt pick up any intrusions so I am going to assume it was benign.
A security vulnerability by using Calibre might be something to consider however.

hank · 02-25-2021, 02:15 PM

I found "calibre.app" listed as accepting incoming connections in the Mac firewall. Is that as it should be?

Also found com.apple.WebKit.Networking.xpc and icab.app set to accept incoming connections.

datostar · 02-26-2021, 03:14 PM

I'm not a computer comms expert by any means, but my understanding is that when computers communicate with each other there is a 'handshaking' process to set up protocols, regulate speed, request resend if data is corrupted etc. etc. There will always be incoming as well as outgoing data. If either is blocked by a firewall or anti-virus transfers won't work.

hank · 03-05-2021, 12:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by datostar

I'm not a computer comms expert by any means, but my understanding is that ....There will always be incoming as well as outgoing data. ...

Nope. Far too general an analysis. Port numbers limit what sort of connection is allowed.

'oogle port security.

You wouldn't let some stranger come in and plug an unknown USB device or portable hard drive into your computer. You also wouldn't want to allow the same stranger access to your computer by telecom connection.

This may help:

https://www.watchguard.com/wgrd-reso...what-is-a-port

JSWolf · 03-05-2021, 12:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hank

I found "calibre.app" listed as accepting incoming connections in the Mac firewall. Is that as it should be?

Also found com.apple.WebKit.Networking.xpc and icab.app set to accept incoming connections.

Yes, it is correct for Calibre to be accepting incoming connections.

theducks · 03-05-2021, 04:03 PM

Incoming to Calibre, not necessarily your PC.
Calibre needs connections if you run Server or Wireless device services
Calibre needs connections to communicate with WORKER tasks

05-02-2010, 06:53 AM	#1
shelleyrae Junior Member Posts: 4 Karma: 10 Join Date: May 2010 Device: ipod with calibre and stanza	Incoming Connections? I am about halfway through adding my collection to Calibre to use on my ipod with Stanza - I have not transmitted anything yet - just trying to get my 1000+ collection sorted. I recieved a popup from McAfee today (after about 2 days of solid use) warning me of Calibre trying to accept incoming connections. I couldnt find anything that told me why this would be happening and Im a bit concerned about the possibility of hackers finding their way in. Is this normal? What would Calibre be trying to accept? Are there any security risks? Thanks for any answers

02-25-2021, 02:15 PM	#9
hank Dinosaur Posts: 107 Karma: 10 Join Date: Sep 2004 Device: Clie TH55, SJ30, VisorEdge, Palm3xe	me too? I found "calibre.app" listed as accepting incoming connections in the Mac firewall. Is that as it should be? Also found com.apple.WebKit.Networking.xpc and icab.app set to accept incoming connections.

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05-02-2010, 07:40 AM	#2
DoctorOhh US Navy, Retired Posts: 9,867 Karma: 13806776 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: North Carolina Device: Icarus Illumina XL HD, Kindle PaperWhite SE 11th Gen	I don't run it but if you had the content server running, it would obviously be accepting some connections. The best way to set things up from a security standpoint will hopefully be answered by others. Another time it will accept connections would be when itis fetching news.

05-02-2010, 12:10 PM	#5
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 44,559 Karma: 24495948 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	The content server accepts incoming connections, it has to to function. If you are using Stanza, the stanza will be trying to connect to the content server on your computer, which is an incoming connection.

05-02-2010, 08:32 PM	#7
shelleyrae Junior Member Posts: 4 Karma: 10 Join Date: May 2010 Device: ipod with calibre and stanza	Thanks. Now to finish catalouging so i can actually get them on ther are start reading

05-07-2010, 02:04 AM	#8
shelleyrae Junior Member Posts: 4 Karma: 10 Join Date: May 2010 Device: ipod with calibre and stanza	Just to update - the content server wasn't running at the time - which is why I was concerned - havent had it reoccur - even when I was running the server to transfer. Ran a full check on my computer and couldnt pick up any intrusions so I am going to assume it was benign. A security vulnerability by using Calibre might be something to consider however.

02-26-2021, 03:14 PM	#10
datostar Enthusiast Posts: 40 Karma: 4158 Join Date: Oct 2012 Device: Kobo Touch	I'm not a computer comms expert by any means, but my understanding is that when computers communicate with each other there is a 'handshaking' process to set up protocols, regulate speed, request resend if data is corrupted etc. etc. There will always be incoming as well as outgoing data. If either is blocked by a firewall or anti-virus transfers won't work.

03-05-2021, 04:03 PM	#13
theducks Well trained by Cats Posts: 30,451 Karma: 58055868 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The Central Coast of California Device: Kobo Libra2,Kobo Aura2v1, K4NT(Fixed: New Bat.), Galaxy Tab A	Incoming to Calibre, not necessarily your PC. Calibre needs connections if you run Server or Wireless device services Calibre needs connections to communicate with WORKER tasks

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