Managed DNS Services

Considering how popular it is, a lot of people might be surprised to find out that Earth Day is not an official US national holiday. In 1970, what started as a way to raise awareness of environmental issues became the catalyst of many rallies and the US Environmental Protection Agency. Many schools and companies around the country make it a point during Earth Day to remind us why it’s important to think consciously about respecting and preserving our planet. Some companies publicize Earth Day as a way to show their environmental contribution and mindfulness once a year, but for No-IP, Earth Day happens multiple times a year. In fact, caring for our community and the environment is engrained in our work culture.

No-IP has been organizing around six meet-ups a year for the past three years, where the team and members of the Reno, Nevada, community come together to clean up trash in various parts of the city and surrounding areas. The gulch by the No-IP headquarters is an integral part of the watershed in Truckee Meadows, so they also put their efforts around there. They’ve also teamed up with a group called Keep Truckee Meadows Beautiful (KTMB), which is a local group that focuses on keeping the city clean with volunteer efforts.

There was no grandiose announcement or company initiative to start the trash clean-ups. Instead, Shauna Woodward, one of our Customer Success members and main organizer of the clean-ups, was feeling lost and overwhelmed by the pandemic that she simply wanted to do something to feel better: “Volunteerism is a great place to start when you’re not sure where to go next.” While walking through the city, she noticed the trash accumulated during quarantine and the increased homelessness. She set out with some gloves, a canvas bag, and a good playlist to pick up some trash herself.

Soon, she began inviting friends and coworkers to join her in the effort, originally cleaning up the Truckee River in Sparks, Nevada. Although the area can be freezing during winter, the group always managed to have fun. Before she knew it, those casual trash pickups gained speed and have become a regular community-building event with the support of No-IP. Not only do the trash clean-ups help clean up the city, but they have proven to be a great team bonding experience that everyone looks forward to. In our 2022 Wrap Up blog, we noted that Shauna organized the final trash clean up around the No-IP headquarters neighborhood in Reno, Nevada, which resulted in 61 (50 gallons) bags of trash total for 2022!

It’s not all serious musings about saving the planet and beautifying the community. The group still likes to have fun during the clean-ups, including playing a game called Best Finds. The game is simple – Who can find the best or craziest thing during the trash pickup? They have found a variety of things, from a bicycle kit to an entire wood stove pellet submerged in the Truckee River.

When asked about her vision for the future of trash clean-ups, Shauna served up some words of wisdom and exciting plans:

“I have been inspired by our recent acknowledgments and blog posts to encourage our entire company to host their own trash pick-ups throughout the year, as well as group-sanctioned events. Our team spans states and a continent or two, and I’d like to help encourage everyone to clean up their cities and communities. This year, my professional goal is to have over 100 man-hours of cleanup across our communities. To the victor with the most individual clean-up hours will go the spoils! We haven’t decided what the prize will be, but in true No-IP fashion, it’s going to be great, so stay tuned!” Stated Woodward.

All it takes is one person to start a movement, and Shauna has proven just that! The team at No-IP hopes this inspires you to do something for the environment, no matter how big or small. You’ll never know how much of an impact it will make on you and those around you. Especially while listening to your favorite jams.

IBM Security recently released the X-Force Threat Intelligence Index 2023, which identified several top threats in the cybersecurity landscape. Two of the most significant threats are backdoor deployment and ransomware.

Backdoor deployment is a technique used by cybercriminals to gain persistent access to a system. It involves creating a hidden entry point in a system that allows the attacker to bypass security controls and gain access to sensitive data. Once a backdoor is installed, an attacker can use it to exfiltrate data, execute commands, and perform other malicious activities without being detected.

According to the X-Force Threat Intelligence Index 2023, backdoor deployment was the most common attack technique used in 2022, accounting for over 45% of all attacks. The report also noted that the use of backdoors is likely to increase in the coming years as cybercriminals become more sophisticated and seek new ways to evade detection.

Ransomware is another top threat identified in the X-Force Threat Intelligence Index 2023. Ransomware is a type of malware that encrypts a victim’s files and demands payment in exchange for the decryption key. Ransomware attacks have become more prevalent in recent years, with high-profile attacks on businesses, governments, and critical infrastructure.

The X-Force Threat Intelligence Index 2023 notes that ransomware attacks have become more sophisticated and targeted, with attackers using social engineering techniques and tailoring their attacks to specific industries and geographies. The report also notes that ransomware attacks are becoming more costly, with the average ransom demand increasing by 43% in 2022.

To mitigate the risks posed by backdoor deployment and ransomware, the X-Force Threat Intelligence Index 2023 recommends several best practices. These include implementing strong access controls, conducting regular security assessments, and deploying security solutions that can detect and respond to attacks in real time.

The report also notes the importance of investing in threat intelligence, which can help organizations stay ahead of emerging threats and proactively defend against attacks. Threat intelligence can provide organizations with critical information on the tactics, techniques, and procedures used by attackers, as well as information on emerging threats and vulnerabilities.

Backdoor deployment and ransomware are two of the most significant threats facing organizations today, and the risks are likely to increase in the coming years. To stay ahead of these threats, organizations must prioritize cybersecurity and implement best practices to mitigate the risks. With the right strategies and tools, organizations can defend against these threats and protect their data and systems from cybercriminals.

In today’s world, many devices and services require access to the internet to function properly. However, in order for devices on a local network to be accessible from outside the local network, port forwarding is often required. In this blog post, we’ll explore what port forwarding is, how it works, and some common use cases for port forwarding.

What is Port Forwarding and Why is it Important?

Port forwarding is a technique used in networking to allow external devices to communicate with devices on a local network. It works by forwarding incoming traffic from a specific port on a router to a specific port on a device on the local network. This allows devices on the local network to be accessible from outside the local network. Without port forwarding, devices on a local network can still communicate with each other, but they cannot communicate with devices outside of the network. This means that services like web servers, mail servers, and gaming servers cannot be accessed from the internet, which can limit their usefulness. Port forwarding is crucial for enabling remote access and making services available to the world.

How Does Port Forwarding Work?

When an external device tries to communicate with a device on a local network, it sends a request to the public IP address of the router that the local network is connected to. The router then uses port forwarding rules to determine which device on the local network should receive the incoming traffic.

For example, if you have a web server running on port 80 on your local network, you can set up port forwarding on your router to forward traffic from port 80 to the IP address of the web server. This way, when someone tries to access your website from the internet, their request is forwarded to your web server, and they can see your website.

Common Use Cases for Port Forwarding

Hosting a website:

If you want to host a website from your home or office, you can set up a web server on your local network to store and manage the website’s files. However, in order for your website to be accessible from the internet, you’ll need to set up port forwarding on your router.

Port forwarding allows incoming traffic from the internet to be directed to the web server on your local network. This means that when someone types in your website’s domain name, their request is forwarded to the web server, and they can access your website. Without port forwarding, requests to your website would not be able to reach your web server, and your website would be inaccessible from the internet.

To set up port forwarding for a website, you’ll need to configure your router to forward incoming traffic to the web server’s port. The default port for HTTP traffic is port 80, but you can choose any port you want. You’ll also need to configure your web server software to listen on that port and serve the website’s content.

One important consideration when hosting a website from your home or office is security. By making your web server accessible from the internet, you’re exposing it to potential security threats. To mitigate these risks, you’ll need to take appropriate security measures, such as keeping your software up to date, configuring firewalls, and implementing strong passwords.

Remote Access:

Port forwarding is a critical technique for enabling remote access to devices on a local network, such as security cameras or home automation systems. By setting up port forwarding on the router, you can make these devices accessible from anywhere in the world, allowing you to monitor or control them remotely.

One common use case for port forwarding is remote access to security cameras. Security cameras are often used to monitor homes, offices, or other spaces, and port forwarding allows users to access the camera’s feed from anywhere in the world. With port forwarding, you can log in to the camera’s interface using a web browser or specialized software and view the live feed, check recorded footage, and adjust settings.

Port forwarding is also used for remote access to home automation systems. Home automation systems allow users to control various devices, such as lights, thermostats, and appliances, from a central interface. By setting up port forwarding, you can access the home automation system remotely and adjust settings, turn devices on or off, or monitor energy usage.

Another use case for port forwarding is remote access to a home server. A home server is a device that allows users to store and manage files, run applications, and host websites from their homes. By setting up port forwarding, you can access the home server remotely and manage files, run applications, or access your website.

Gaming:

Port forwarding is crucial for online gaming, especially for multiplayer games where players need to connect to each other’s devices. Many games require port forwarding to be set up on the router in order to host multiplayer games or join online game servers.

Minecraft, one of the most popular games in the world, requires port forwarding to be set up in order to host a server or join one. By setting up port forwarding on the router, you can allow other players to connect to your Minecraft server and play together. Without port forwarding, players won’t be able to join your server, and you won’t be able to connect to other servers.

Other popular games that require port forwarding include Call of Duty, Fortnite, and League of Legends. By setting up port forwarding for these games, you can improve the connection quality and reduce latency for online gameplay. This can make the difference between winning or losing in competitive gameplay.

File Sharing:

If you’re looking to share files with others over the internet, setting up a file server is a great option. A file server is a device or software application that stores and manages files and allows users to access them remotely over the internet. By setting up port forwarding, you can make your file server accessible from the internet, allowing others to download or upload files to your server from anywhere in the world.

One popular option for setting up a file server is using a Network Attached Storage (NAS) device. NAS devices are specialized file servers that are designed to be easy to set up and use. They typically come with their own software that allows you to manage files and users, and they can be accessed from a variety of devices, including computers, smartphones, and tablets.

Port forwarding is a crucial technique for enabling remote access and making services available to the world. By forwarding incoming traffic from a specific port on a router to a specific port on a device on a local network, port forwarding allows devices on the local network to be accessible from the internet. Whether you’re hosting a website, gaming, or sharing files, port forwarding is an essential tool for making your services available to others.

If you’re interested in setting up port forwarding for your devices or services, No-IP’s Free Dynamic DNS service can help you make them accessible from anywhere in the world. With a No-IP account, you can create a hostname that points to your device’s IP address, and easily access it remotely.

So, if you want to make your services available to the world, sign up for a free No-IP account today and start exploring the possibilities of port forwarding.

Looking for more Port Forwarding resources? Check out these blog posts:

Port Forwarding: Customer Support Excellence with No-IP Dynamic DNS Router Guides

The Magic of Port Forwarding – What is it and How Does it Work?

At No-IP, Customer Support is one of our top priorities. We are dedicated to helping our users make the most of our services and resolving any issues they may encounter. One common challenge faced by many users is setting up port forwarding on their routers to work with No-IP’s Dynamic DNS service. To make this process easier and ensure a seamless experience, we have compiled a list of port forwarding guides for some of the most popular routers.

Each guide provides step-by-step instructions for setting up port forwarding to enable remote access for devices like security cameras and gaming consoles. By following these guides, you’ll be able to configure your router to work smoothly with No-IP’s Dynamic DNS service, allowing you to enjoy the full benefits of our services.

Netgear Routers

Step 1: Log in to your router’s web interface by entering its IP address (usually 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1) in your browser.

Step 2: Enter your router’s username and password.

Step 3: Click on the “Advanced” tab, then select “Port Forwarding/Port Triggering” under the “Advanced Setup” menu.

Step 4: Choose “Add Custom Service” and enter the necessary details for the device you want to set up.

Step 5: Click “Apply” to save your changes.

For a detailed guide, visit: Netgear Router Port Forwarding Guide

Linksys Routers

Step 1: Log in to your router’s web interface by entering its IP address (usually 192.168.1.1) in your browser.

Step 2: Enter your router’s username and password.

Step 3: Click on the “Security” tab, then select “Apps and Gaming” from the menu.

Step 4: Choose “Single Port Forwarding” or “Port Range Forwarding” depending on your needs, and enter the necessary details for the device you want to set up.

Step 5: Click “Save” or “Apply” to save your changes.

For a detailed guide, visit: Linksys Router Port Forwarding Guide

TP-Link Routers

Step 1: Log in to your router’s web interface by entering its IP address (usually 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1) in your browser.

Step 2: Enter your router’s username and password.

Step 3: Click on the “Forwarding” tab, then select “Virtual Servers” from the menu.

Step 4: Click on “Add New” and enter the necessary details for the device you want to set up.

Step 5: Click “Save” to apply your changes.

For a detailed guide, visit: TP-Link Router Port Forwarding Guide

ASUS Routers

Step 1: Log in to your router’s web interface by entering its IP address (usually 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1) in your browser.

Step 2: Enter your router’s username and password.

Step 3: Click on the “WAN” tab, then select “Virtual Server/Port Forwarding” from the menu.

Step 4: Click on “Add Profile” and enter the necessary details for the device you want to set up.

Step 5: Click “Apply” to save your changes.

For a detailed guide, visit: ASUS Router Port Forwarding Guide

D-Link Routers

Step 1: Log in to your router’s web interface by entering its IP address (usually 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1) in your browser.

Step 2: Enter your router’s username and password.

Step 3: Click on the “Advanced” tab, then select “Port Forwarding” from the menu.

Step 4: Click on “Add Rule” and enter the necessary details for the device you want to set up.

Step 5: Click “Save” or “Apply” to save your changes.

For a detailed guide, visit: D-Link Router Port Forwarding Guide

Belkin Routers

Step 1: Log in to your router’s web interface by entering its IP address (usually 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1) in your browser.

Step 2: Enter your router’s username and password.

Step 3: Click on the “Virtual Servers” tab, located under the “Firewall” section.

Step 4: Click on “Add” and enter the necessary details for the device you want to set up.

Step 5: Click “Apply Changes” to save your settings.

For a detailed guide, visit: Belkin Router Port Forwarding Guide

Cisco Routers

Step 1: Log in to your router’s web interface by entering its IP address (usually 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1) in your browser.

Step 2: Enter your router’s username and password.

Step 3: Click on the “Applications & Gaming” tab, then select “Port Range Forwarding” from the menu.

Step 4: Enter the necessary details for the device you want to set up and click “Add to List.”

Step 5: Click “Save Settings” to apply your changes.

For a detailed guide, visit: Cisco Router Port Forwarding Guide

Ubiquiti Routers

Step 1: Log in to your router’s web interface by entering its IP address (usually 192.168.1.1) in your browser.

Step 2: Enter your router’s username and password.

Step 3: Click on the “Settings” tab, then select “Firewall/NAT” from the menu.

Step 4: Go to the “Port Forwarding” tab and click “Add New Port Forward Rule.”

Step 5: Enter the necessary details for the device you want to set up and click “Save.”

For a detailed guide, visit: Ubiquiti Router Port Forwarding Guide

If you’d like to learn more about port forwarding and how it works, we recommend reading our blog post: The Magic of Port Forwarding: How Does it Work?. This informative article will help you gain a better understanding of port forwarding, its benefits, and how it can enhance your remote access experience with No-IP’s Dynamic DNS service.

These port forwarding guides should help you configure popular routers to work with No-IP’s Dynamic DNS service. Always remember to consult your router’s user manual or manufacturer’s website for specific instructions on port forwarding, as the process may vary slightly between router models. If you need further assistance or encounter issues while setting up port forwarding, don’t hesitate to Open a Support Ticket with our Customer Support team.