Setting previleges to a non-root user account to access ports

Question

Hello ,
I am tring to do an icmp-ping to a machine in the network from an application by connecting to icmp port through a raw socket.
My question is i am able to connect to icmp port using raw socket only in root user account. But my application should run under a non root user account and do the ping for me.
1)How do i set previleges to a particular user to access icmp port?
I am running the application on solaris 9
2)I read a paper on net saying ports from 0 to 1024 can only be accessed by a root user account?
Why is this and what can be done for a non-root user account to access these ports.
3) Is this possible in solaris 9.
Thanks in Advance,
cheers,
pal

Answer 1

There is only one solution: create a new Standard user account and set it as your auto login account, if you use that feature.
Using what you describe is mostly a false sense of security. Were someone to hack into the computer they could hack into the standard account, so you would not wish to keep any sensitive data in that account. Other things to consider:
Turn on your Firewall in Security & Privacy preference panel.
Use software to mask your online presence such as ProxyCap 2.03, MacProxy, Proxifier, or Hotspot Shield.