Imagine you’re trying to send a package to a friend who lives in a building with a strict doorman.

The doorman only accepts packages addressed to the building itself not individual apartments.

This is similar to how your internet works.

This article about port forwarding made my brain hurt 🧠 but I think I get it now. Let me know if I’m wrong though, I don’t wanna get hacked. Check out the comments section to see what other redditors think.

Table of Contents

Understanding the Concept of Port Forwarding

Your home network like the building with the doorman has a single public address your router’s IP address. All devices on your network like your computers phones and even your smart fridge share this single address. This is called Network Address Translation (NAT).

Port forwarding in this analogy is like giving the doorman specific instructions on which apartment a package should be delivered to.

It’s a way to bypass the NAT and allow incoming traffic to reach specific devices on your network.

Why Use Port Forwarding?

Port forwarding is useful for:

Remote Access: Accessing your home computer or server from outside your network. This is essential for remote work managing your home network or accessing files stored on your home computer.
Hosting Servers: Running a game server or other online services from your home. This allows others to connect directly to your server bypassing any limitations imposed by your ISP.
Internet of Things (IoT) Devices: Connecting to your smart devices like security cameras or thermostats remotely.

Technical Explanation of Ports and NAT

To delve a little deeper ports are like virtual doorways on your devices.

Each application like your web browser email client or gaming software uses a specific port to receive incoming data.

These ports are numbered from 0 to 65535.

For example the email client application typically uses port 110 (POP3) to receive emails.

When a message arrives it is sent to your device’s IP address followed by the specific port number like 192.168.1.100:110.

NAT acts as a gatekeeper assigning private IP addresses to each device on your network.

These addresses are hidden from the outside world and all traffic is directed through your router’s public IP address.

This creates a problem if you want to access a specific device on your network from outside.

Port forwarding essentially tells the router to “forward” incoming traffic destined for a specific port to the correct device within your network.

Does Port Forwarding Work with a VPN?

This is a tricky question.

Technically you can set up port forwarding with a VPN but it’s often not recommended and can be risky.

Why You Might Need Port Forwarding with a VPN

Remote VPN Access: If you’ve set up a VPN server at home you might need to forward ports to access it remotely. This allows you to connect to your VPN server from anywhere in the world bypassing geographical restrictions and potentially improving your internet speed.
Secure Server Hosting: You might need to forward ports to host a secure server from your home allowing others to connect to your server through the VPN tunnel.

Risks of Port Forwarding with a VPN

While it might seem advantageous port forwarding with a VPN significantly increases your security risks.

Here’s why:

Compromising Your VPN Security: VPNs primarily protect your online privacy by encrypting your traffic and hiding your real IP address. Port forwarding essentially creates a backdoor bypassing this encryption and making it possible for hackers to access your devices.
Unintentional Exposure: If you haven’t configured port forwarding properly you could unintentionally expose your devices to the internet. This makes them vulnerable to various attacks including malware infections data breaches and denial-of-service attacks.

Understanding UPnP and Port Triggering

Two common methods for automating port forwarding are Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) and port triggering.

UPnP – Automating Port Forwarding

UPnP is a protocol that allows devices on the same network to communicate and share information automatically.

This includes automatically opening ports for specific applications making setting up network services easier.

However UPnP also presents security risks because it is easily exploited.

Hackers can use UPnP to gain access to your devices and potentially install malware or hijack your network.

Port Triggering – A More Secure Alternative?

Port triggering is a more secure option for automating port forwarding.

It only opens ports temporarily when a specific request is made by a device within your network.

This approach makes it much harder for hackers to exploit and open ports for malicious activities.

However port triggering is less convenient because it doesn’t provide constant access to specific devices from outside your network.

This means that features like remote access to your home computer or accessing your baby monitor from your phone might not be possible with port triggering.

Port Forwarding: Is It Worth the Risk?

Port forwarding can be useful for specific tasks like remote access and hosting servers but it comes with significant security risks.

If you decide to enable port forwarding it’s crucial to understand the potential consequences and take precautions to mitigate the risks.

Alternatives to Port Forwarding

Fortunately there are many alternatives to port forwarding that can help you achieve similar functionality without compromising your security:

Cloud Services: Use cloud services like Dropbox or Google Drive to access your files remotely.
Remote Desktop Software: Utilize remote desktop software like TeamViewer or AnyDesk to control your computer remotely.
Virtual Private Servers (VPS): Rent a VPS to host your servers instead of using your home network.

Conclusion

Port forwarding is a complex topic with both benefits and risks.

It’s essential to weigh these factors carefully and choose a method that best suits your needs while prioritizing your security.

If you’re unsure about whether you need port forwarding or how to set it up securely consulting a cybersecurity expert is always a good idea.

What is port forwarding and does it work with a VPN