UPnP enabled or disabled?

  • F Thread starter ForgottenSeer 96160
  • Start date Start date
  • 13 Replies
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UPnP enabled or disabled?

  • Enabled

    Votes: 10 27.0%

  • Disabled

    Votes: 23 62.2%

  • I don't know

    Votes: 4 10.8%
  • Total voters
    37
I don't play any online games that need port forwarding. I use one private tracker where it would've been helpful if I had a real IP, but mine is shared, so there isn't any benefit for me.
So, I have disabled it on my router. It's more secured that way.
 
Disabled, its safer, not a game player and can forward ports manually if needed.
oldschool said:
Dependable advice:

GRC | UnPlug n' Pray - Disable the Dangerous UPnP Internet Server

UnPlug 'n Pray - Take control of Windows' insecure and dangerous Internet UPnP server
www.grc.com www.grc.com
Also a great resource for other testing, tech, etc. Some info is old and obsolete but others are still relevant.
Click to expand...
I'm surprised sometimes how long he keeps some stuff on his site, but his advice is dependable, the tools have/had worthy purposes, so I guess its partially an archive for him.
 
Enabled. It depends on the router manufacturer’s firmware. For example ASUS uses miniUPnPd which never exposed UPnP to the WAN side. Which is how it was always supposed to be. If it is only exposed on the LAN then it is just as safe as the devices on your LAN. Security of LAN devices is outside of the scope of UPnP, and most people are at higher risk of other issues as long as it isn’t exposed to the WAN side. Looking at my routing tables the only things I ever see open up a port are games. I’d rather have games open up ports and then have them close automatically than mess with a bunch of port forwarding which leaves them open constantly. Honestly there’s a bunch of panic because there are bad implementations of UPnP. But a lot of the advice on router security.org and GRC is old or a bit paranoid.
 
Disabled and haven't thought about it for years so apparently it hasn't caused a problem in my case. Not a gamer, pretty much an everything elser. Arris SBG7400AC2 router not by choice but by limited uderpopulated West North Central state ISP provider options.
 
Last edited:
@oldschool quotes a post above GRC number #6 has some old and obsolete information. UPnP uses Port 5000/TCP. Don't worry about it, although here on the forum it is always good to discuss many interesting issues. Modern routers, recent operating systems, are already covered and no action is required. Unless you are using an old router, and are running an old operating system.;)
 

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