UPnP.

[slipd]

Hey guys,

A mate of mine reckons that by using UPnP on your router you can be jeopardising your overall system security? He's basically say’s its unsafe

It’s enabled by default on my router, the Netgear DG834G? Should I turn it off? I’m not aware that I ever use it?

Cheers,

SW.

 

[Burbleflop]

It should be ok, but it depends how much you trust the software you have installed

Personally I always disable it as I want to control my firewall, not some piece of software.

 

[Topgun]

It is very unsafe as it permits applications running inside the LAN to communicate with the router and open incomming ports when needed. just imagine a trojan or virus which opens up all the ports on your firewall! On the other hand it does make it easier for applications to temporarily open ports when needed to simplify peep to peer netwoking.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UPNP