Question

UPnP setting

Asked by: RHLservice

What is a UPnP setting on a router do and is leaving it enabled present any danger?

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Asked On
2008-03-23 at 10:35:16ID23262782
Tags

Netgear

,

Router

Topics

Wireless Technologies

,

Wireless Networking

,

Networking Hardware

Participating Experts
2
Points
500
Comments
2

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Answers

 

by: JohnjcesPosted on 2008-03-23 at 10:44:47ID: 21190204

UPnP is Universal Plug n Play and was designed for appliances, like dishwashers, refirgerators and other such devices to communicate wit each other and to the Internet to download updates to their firmware, provide services and automated diagnostics and just about anything else that a home appliance might need to operate and operate with simliar devices and communicate to its human owner.

This setting is seen by some as a potential security hole as any open port or service can be.

If you have no UPnP devices it is perfectly safe and recommended that you turn this off in your router.

John

 

by: briancassinPosted on 2008-03-23 at 10:52:04ID: 21190234

In some cases UPnP may be required to be turned on in the router. Certain VOIP carriers require it to communicate with there modems. Also certain Instant messenger chat programs require it. More things are becoming dependent on it unfortunately.

Try turning it off if you notice suddenly your having problems with connecting to certain internet based items or it ends up causing reduced functionality then you may need to re-enable it. This is also a service that runs on windows XP and Vista automatically and may be required for certain functionality of those operating systems.

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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