Port triggering is a secure way of automating port forwarding on a specific type of router. It activates and deactivates the port when needed, making it harder for hackers to access your computer. However, only one port can be used at a time, making it unsuitable for servers that handle many ports and connections. Port triggering is only available on routers with network address translation (NAT) enabled.
Port triggering is a port forwarding system that automates the forwarding process and activates and deactivates the port when needed. This is more secure than manual port forwarding, because the port will go down after the connection ends, unlike port forwarding where the port is open until the user shuts it down. This can only be done on a specific type of router, but the router is common. Only one port can be used in port triggering at a time, so servers that handle many ports and connections would not be suitable for this method of triggering.
When a computer uses a router, usually for an Internet connection, it connects a port to the router system and sends a command. The command might be to look at an email server or access a website. The router implements the command and then sends the data to your computer. Another port, known as a forwarding port, is opened back to the computer and supplies the data.
On a computer without port triggering enabled, the port will remain open. While harmless in itself, an open port can act as an open door for hackers. This makes it easier for a hacker to inject code into the open port or steal information from your computer. In this scenario, the administrator must manually close the port.
The door trigger works similarly but has an on and off button. This on and off button is not activated by the user but by the data flow. When the user sends a command, the port is opened due to the requested data. After the data streams have entered the computer and there is nothing more coming in, the activated port is closed. When it’s turned off, it’s harder for hackers to break into your computer.
One problem with port triggering is that the same port cannot be used by two or more computers on the network. This occurs when the administrator programs a specific port as an enabled port. If two computers try to access this specific port at the same time, there will be a conflict and it won’t work for either computer. Servers handle a lot of connections, so port triggering won’t help and will end up accidentally dropping a lot of connections.
Only one type of router can handle port triggering. This is known as a network address translation (NAT) enabled router. These routers allow your computer to access two Internet Protocol (IP) addresses for internal and external traffic.
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