port forwarding

Coveredinbees!!!!

I have installed a program that won't work and it says in the instruction I have to set up port forwarding. Can anyone tell me what happens when I do this, will it make my PC more open to attack from hackers?

mrscruffy

Which ports and what is the program?

Red_Rose_Exile

And if you are using a router, which router are you using?

Coveredinbees!!!!

Ok more info needed

It's an online poker program from absolute poker. My router is a Netgear DG834G and the ports it wants are 7000 ~ 7200 (the entire range), 6982, 8002, 8004, 8006, 8012, 8014, 8016, 8021, 8022, 8030, 8055, 8081.

espresso

See here for more info.

BritBrat

Enter your router setup page http://192.168.0.1

Go to sevices

Select the Add a Custom Service BUTTON

And enter as below and click APPLY



Now do another using:

Name Poker6982
Type TCP/UDP
Start Port 6982
Finish Port 6982
APPLY

Then another using:

Name Poker 8000
Type TCP/UDP
Start Port 8000
Finish Port 8090
APPLY

Now you need to find your local computers IP address. it will be 192.168.0.*

Note * = I do not know the last digits

Now you need to select "Firewall Rules"

Select ADD from the bottom of the page


Now make 2 more rules using:

Select service Poker6982
IP: the same as before
APPLY

Select service Poker 8000
IP: Same as before
APPLY

Now the only problem you can get is if your IP changes on rebooting PC so you may need to make it static.

Now it should work

Coveredinbees!!!!

You haven't really answered the question I asked. The question was what happens when a port is forwarded, what does it actually do and will it make my PC more open to hacking.

culpepper

you are forwarding the port number to your router so that it allows the use of the ports for the specific program.
It should not make you more susceotible to attack because it 'should' allow only your poker program access to and from the ports.
You should be able to specify a range of ports in your settings and so not have to add every specific number seperately.Unless you dont want to open the intermediate ports too for that prog even though it doesnt need them.eg 8000-8081 would open all those ports for use by the poker game even if it doesnt need 8003 etc.
HTH

espresso

Coveredinbees!!!! wrote: »

You haven't really answered the question I asked..........

You haven't read the link that I posted. Do you want to play on-line poker?

What is port forwarding?

BritBrat

I have installed a program that won't work and it says in the instruction I have to set up port forwarding.

I told you or should that be showed you how to do that.

If you really want to be safe make a rule on inbound to block all ports, you will not be able to use the internet but you will be safe.

I wonder if you have made any rules before, because if not you may already have ports open by default on that router.

Do a check for ports:

1863 - 1864
4443
5000
5190
40000 - 40100

http://www.hashemian.com/tools/port-scanner.php

Some of the firmwares closed them then others opened them again.

Unless you dont want to open the intermediate ports too for that prog even though it doesnt need them.eg 8000-8081 would open all those ports for use by the poker game even if it doesnt need 8003 etc.
HTH

Yes he could but it would be a hell of a lot of rules to make.

Chippy_Minton

Coveredinbees!!!! wrote: »

I have installed a program that won't work and it says in the instruction I have to set up port forwarding. Can anyone tell me what happens when I do this, will it make my PC more open to attack from hackers?

Port forwarding allows a program on the internet to send and receive data to your computer on a specific port.

A program must be running on your PC 'listening' for data on a port before a program on another computer on the internet can communicate with it. In your case this program is the online poker program, and you control it by starting it and exiting it, etc.

There is a slight risk that the poker program could do naughty things like retrieving your documents, emails etc., or install a virus, or it might have security hole which hackers could exploit, however all this is unlikely if it comes from a reputable company. Another possibility is that a rogue program or virus could get on your computer and hackers could communicate with it via the open port. Again, this is unlikely if you have a firewall in place and do regular virus/malware scans etc.