Privacy, Security & Virus Information

Hackers know how to attack your router

If it came to the test, it is unlikely whether the average computer owner or could tell you exactly what a router does apart from provide access to the internet and provide a pretty nice light show while doing so.

First of all, that is true but the router is a pretty sophisticated device, checking data as it passes through it, and capable of weeding out and modifying a fairly large number of the viruses that might flow through it.

The router's function is to allow a user to connect to several different computers on a local network to a single internet connection. That connection will always have a single internet IP address, assigned to the router the task of the router is to connect the computer to the World, by receiving and sending messages.

Routers have been assigned the role of recognizing incoming IP addresses and sifting out unfriendly information and in the event that an unrequested attempt is made to connect to your internet IP address, the router will block attempts to connect from computers on the internet to your computer.

So in the general scheme of things if you have a router, you are both connected to the internet as well as being protected from the majority of unwelcome visitors. As long as your router is configured to block unsolicited IP addresses from connecting, which most routers are these days- or should be.

The "should be" scenario comes into play when computer owners actually are interested in initiating an unsolicited connection to their computer from the internet. This function, known as "port forwarding" allows the router to act on an instruction to allow access to certain connections. This function, known as "Universal Plug and Play" (UPNP) will allows software to make unsolicited router configurations.

UPNP is regarded by internet security experts as a very real risk to security as hackers are more than capable of configuring malware to penetrate any router's security configuration, and by doing so neutralize the security that is in place.

If you are interested in taking advantage of the UPNP option then you must make sure that your computer is fully protected by the most powerful virus protection software available on line to protect yourself from the onslaught of viruses which are growing daily. The moral of the story is not to put too much faith in your router. It also needs a lot of help.

 

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