What is UPnP?

Technology in the computer age has been affected by non-security features, security holes and general monitoring in software architecture. A flash drive can carry a keylogger. The browser may have backdoor doors. Windows still has to constantly update security fixes. The good always goes hand in hand with the bad and still has no end to this problem.

Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) is a technological advancement, accompanied by its disadvantages. This is a convenient technology, but that convenience can make the system easier to encounter certain problems, if you don't keep an eye on it. Read the following article to find out what UPnP is and how it can jeopardize your online safety.

What is Universal Plug and Play?

Technically, UPnP is a network protocol (or actually a set of network protocols). These protocols outline a specific communication method that every device can use to communicate instantly with each other on the network. In most cases, UPnP is used by devices to discover other devices on that particular network. UPnP is very popular now and it will be surprising if you have never used it.

If you're still confused about what UPnP is, try visualizing a printer. The first step is to physically connect the printer to the network (although this can now be done via WiFi). Previously, you had to search manually and set up so that other devices on the network could find that printer. Today, that happens automatically thanks to UPnP.

After connecting, devices on the network can continue to communicate with each other by sending and receiving data. The computer can tell the printer to print the document. Media centers can transmit audio data. Mobile devices can connect themselves to computers. All possibilities are endless.

The term 'plug and play' is becoming more and more popular. You plug in the device and can start using it immediately without experiencing the setup and configuration 'nightmare'. UPnP is one of the most convenient networking technologies available today. UPnP is mainly used on civilian networks instead of business networks.

The danger of UPnP

UPnP has been criticized for more than a decade because of some security holes. Earlier, the FBI suggested that users disable their UPnP settings to minimize risk damage. This has recurred again, although this specific vulnerability is not the same as last time.

What exactly is the problem with UPnP? There are two major vulnerabilities that have been attacked recently:

1. Programming errors - There are errors in actual code, making UPnP deployments exploited by bad guys, allowing them to execute malicious code via injection.
2. Unintended display - The purpose of UPnP is to make devices on the network easily discoverable by other devices on that network. Unfortunately, some UPnP control interfaces can be displayed to the public Internet, allowing bad guys to find and access your private devices.

The US Department of Homeland Security has recommended that all users disable this protocol, due to these security holes. The vulnerabilities have made about 40 million devices around the world vulnerable to hackers. A worrying truth.

However, don't panic! There is a 'consolation' for all this. These errors mostly affect older devices, but they can even be patched without having to buy new hardware.

Most UPnP implementations use an open source solution called lilupnp. Technically, any device that uses the lilupnp version before 1.6.18 will be vulnerable to this threat. However, because most manufacturers will not disclose that information to ordinary users. You will have to wait until your device manufacturer releases an update to resolve these issues. Until those patches appear, you can completely prevent the problem by disabling UPnP on all your devices.

There are many devices that use UPnP and numerous manufacturers for each device type, so TipsMake.com cannot include instructions for disabling them all here, so you should run Google search for your device and include the phrase 'disable UPnP' in the search query.

In terms of security holes, this is one of the most easily solved problems. You will have to wait for fixes, avoid using the Internet or reboot into Safe Mode and purge the system for problems. For this issue, all you have to do is disable the UPnP feature and you will be safe for a long time.