INTERACT FORUM

Networks and Remotes => Media Network => Topic started by: cncb on October 24, 2017, 09:59:14 am

Title: Safe remote access?
Post by: cncb on October 24, 2017, 09:59:14 am

I am thinking about setting up MC for remote access.  I understand to do this I need to set up "port forwarding" on my router.  Is this safe or will I be opening up my PC and/or network to external hacking?  Thanks.

Title: Re: Safe remote access?
Post by: cncb on October 29, 2017, 08:05:39 am

Has anyone done this and have any comments?  Do I need a VPN or is port forwarding safe enough?

Title: Re: Safe remote access
Post by: nwboater on October 29, 2017, 08:07:21 am

These are excellent questions that I have also been wondering about. It would be nice to get opinions from some of the real gurus here or JRiver.

Perhaps this would get better traction in the main MC23 Board.

Cheers,
Rod

Title: Re: Safe remote access?
Post by: JimH on October 29, 2017, 08:38:47 am

If you use port forwarding, you're only allowing access to MC itself on one machine via one port.  This couldn't present a risk unless MC had a vulnerability, and even if that were true, someone would have to write a program to exploit this vulnerability.

This is the same as many other programs that probably run on your machine now.  You could look at your firewall to see what has been opened up automatically.

High risk programs on a machine are those that are commonly used.  Browsers, for example.  They present a more attractive target to the bad guys.

You could do an Internet search to learn more.  Your router manufacturer might be a good source of information.

The Wikipedia topic on port forwarding (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Port_forwarding) might also help.

Title: Re: Safe remote access?
Post by: nwboater on October 29, 2017, 09:48:13 am

Hi Jim,

Thanks very much for your explanations. I plan to dig a little deeper into this, but you have certainly assuaged some of my fears.

Cheers,
Rod

Title: Re: Safe remote access?
Post by: marko on October 29, 2017, 03:45:49 pm

What Jim said.

Just in case the bad guys found a vulnerability in MC, and then wrote their program to exploit it, I changed the port MC uses away from the default (in Options under "Media Network"). I have been connecting remotely using my phone, from the car, for many years now without issue (that I'm aware of ;))

Title: Re: Safe remote access?
Post by: cncb on November 10, 2017, 08:38:02 am

Thanks for the replies.  It seems that I should wait for the mobile remote clients to get SSL support or somebody could potentially intercept my password and mess with my library.

Title: Re: Safe remote access?
Post by: JimH on November 10, 2017, 09:28:51 am

You can use a secure connection by specifying the port for it.  Here's an example:

https://idtest.jriver.com:52200/Panel/#/browse

That connects to our demonstration server.

Title: Re: Safe remote access?
Post by: cncb on November 11, 2017, 08:49:02 am

I was referring to the mobile clients (JRemote and Gizmo) and it is my understanding from the SSL thread that the mobile clients do not support this yet.