read data from com port

Or yes, easily.

I'm presently ofter work with voltages of some 8 Kv, and the induction caused by the quick discharge of a capacitor charged at this voltage can easily knock out even the devices working via USB, which is way more tolerant to induction than serial COM ports. We take special measures to avoid it. It really needs pretty delicate software engineering. It actually depends on many factors, including characteristic frequencies.

In near past, COM ports were much more vulnerable, they used to burn out pretty easily because of static discharge.

In fact, it depends on many factors — please see my comment to the question.

—SA