topic Re: Broadband Firewall in Plusnet Feedback

Broadband Firewall

hillyfields123 — Wed, 18 Mar 2015 17:12:25 GMT

First off I just wanna say how brilliant PN have been with customer support and the expertise all the CSRs seem to have!
Anyways, to the feedback. After looking at the broadband firewall settings I noticed that there's no option to choose the ports that you allow through (For example port 22 for SSH) along with having the protection the firewall provides. Any ideas?

Re: Broadband Firewall

Townman — Wed, 18 Mar 2015 17:29:41 GMT

Hi Hillyfields,
Have a read of this - http://portal.plus.net/support/security/firewalls/broadbandfirewall.shtml
Low ought to do what you need,

Re: Broadband Firewall

hillyfields123 — Wed, 18 Mar 2015 22:13:04 GMT

Hi Townman, thanks for your reply.
I can't see anything on that page about allowing any ports through except 80, 443 and 25. I'm actually looking to turn up my firewall to "High" but need access to SSH, HTTP(S) and other miscellaneous ports.
Unless I'm missing something I can't see anything about blocking all incoming traffic and then allowing certain ports through.
Thanks,
hillyfields123

Re: Broadband Firewall

Townman — Thu, 19 Mar 2015 07:30:25 GMT

Hilly fields,
You are correct, the PlusNET fire wall is quite simplistic addressing the needs / protection of the majority non-savvy users. You cannot select specific ports; rather you select the profile which best suits you. I believe that low leaves port 22 open.
You will if course need to setup a rule to forward port 22 on your router.

Re: Broadband Firewall

hillyfields123 — Thu, 19 Mar 2015 15:52:39 GMT

Townman,
Ahhh that sucks.. I was hoping to be able to leave the broadband firewall on "High" but it looks like, as you suggested, that I'll have to downgrade it to "Low".
Perhaps this could be an option that could be added? Seeing as Plusnet tend to be better for the so-called 'savvy' user (With their support of static IPs and the like)

Re: Broadband Firewall

Oldjim — Thu, 19 Mar 2015 16:04:16 GMT

Quote from: hillyfields123
Seeing as Plusnet ~~tend~~ used to be better for the so-called 'savvy' user (With their support of static IPs and the like)

Slight correction I am afraid
The supplied TG582n router is a mass market cheapo unit designed to suit the technically challenged user and the new one is even more so.

Re: Broadband Firewall

hillyfields123 — Thu, 19 Mar 2015 16:26:13 GMT

Good job that mine hasn't even been unpacked then!

Re: Broadband Firewall

hillyfields123 — Thu, 19 Mar 2015 19:33:04 GMT

Is there any chance of this being proposed as an additional option though?

Re: Broadband Firewall

Townman — Thu, 19 Mar 2015 19:35:41 GMT

There is lots of chance of it being proposed, but a slim chance of it happening.
PlusNet has a massive essential engineering programme in progress, I would not expect this nice to have functionality (which would more than likely increase support work load) see the light of day in the near future.

Re: Broadband Firewall

Anotherone — Fri, 20 Mar 2015 01:16:39 GMT

Quote from: Oldjim
The supplied TG582n router is a mass market cheapo unit designed to suit the technically challenged user ........

Ha, that is debatable. According to some posts even technically challenged users can't manage it!

Re: Broadband Firewall

hillyfields123 — Fri, 20 Mar 2015 16:04:43 GMT

Don't you ever feel sorry for the poor old thing though - Moaned at by both the technically competent and technically incompetent!