Have you ever heard of the term Port Forwarding in computer networking terminology? Port forwarding is also tagged as “Tunneling” by many text experts. The process of Port Forwarding is often used by many VPN service providers to divert the network traffic or hide the IP address while you’re browsing.
So, what is port forwarding? And how does it work? Here’s everything you need to know.
Also read: What Is A DNS Leak And How To Prevent It?
What is Port Forwarding?
Port Forwarding is more like a mapping process that redirects the network traffic to a different IP address/port. Port forwarding, aka Tunneling, is often performed to add an extra layer of security to your digital privacy and to simply make the whole network connection process less transparent to intruders. It is an unusual way to strengthen your safety, as you can avoid unwanted access and preserve your IP address information from being leaked.
To understand in simple parlance, this is how the Port Forwarding process works.
The device you’re trying to connect first reads the packet header’s information and the destination address. After noting this information, all these details are re-written and then sent to a different host computer. All this action is conducted in the background so that the request can get sent to the ultimate destination without being tracked by this-parties. Hence, Port Forwarding stops you from setting up a direct contact between the client and the web, and the whole process becomes a lot more simplified and secure.
How do I set up port forwarding?
As we’ve gathered a brief understanding of port forwarding, let’s learn how to set up port forwarding on your router.
First, launch any browser and type “192.168.1.1” in the address bar, hit Enter. This will open the default portal of your installed router.
Log in to your account. (In most cases, the user ID is admin and the password is mostly admin or 123, so you can try your luck). If you’re not aware of the login credentials, then you can make a quick Google search to know the same.
Once you’ve logged in to your router account, switch to “Advanced” settings to look for the “Port Forwarding” option. (A reference snapshot has been attached below)
In the Port Forwarding settings window, assign any name to your device, and then fill in the port field information.
Lastly, check whether the port you entered is available or not; head on to “www.portchecktool.com” to confirm the port details.
Is Port forwarding Dangerous?
Port Forwarding is an excellent way to keep your online activities secure. Not dangerous, it’s one of the safest ways to gain remote access from your device without leaking your port address information on the server.
The process of Port Forwarding configures the router settings by re-writing the original address and replacing it with another one. But yes, it depends on the target port number that you’re using. To use Port Forwarding, one should rather use a VPN connection or a secure Firewall instead.
What does Port Forwarding do for Gaming?
You may have often heard of the term “Port Forwarding” by many gaming fanatics. Port Forwarding acts like a boon for every gamer as it allows you to set up a stable connection between the device and the server. Most gamers directly connect to the game server to enjoy immersive gameplay barring the hindrances.
Also read: How To Setup And Manage An FTP Server On Windows 10?
Can you Port Forward without a Router?
Most of the routers support the Port Forwarding functionality. Using a router for conducting port forwarding is more easy and secure. You simply need to dig inside the router settings and enable Port forwarding on any device.
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Conclusion
We hope we have cleared all your doubts about port forwarding, setting up a port forward connection on your router, and why this process is essential from a security point of view. Internet is a giant web; hence one needs to make sure that your online activities stay secure while surfing the web.
Stay safe, fellas!