How To Open A Port On pfSense Firewall?

In this article, we will cover how to configure your pfSense firewall for remote connections and get you up and running in minutes. This guide assumes that you already have the latest version of pfSense installed, or are using an ISO installation of it.

To open a port on the pfSense firewall, you will need to follow these steps:

1. Open the System Menu and click Network.
2. Go to Interfaces -> WAN and edit this interface.
3. Under the Advanced tab, find the TCP/IPv4 settings section and change Enabled from Yes to No.
4. In the Static DHCP, the Lease section sets the IPv4 Lease Time as Unlimited.
5. Switch back to Configure Mode and go to Firewall -> NAT -> Outbound NAT Rule Generation.
6. Apply the changes that you have made by clicking OK.
7. After that, go to Firewall -> Rules and add a new rule by clicking on the Plus sign.
8. In the General tab, fill in the information of the options below:

Action: Allow

Interface: WAN

Protocol: TCP/IP

Source: WAN Address

Destination: enter the port number to open.

9. Click Save and then Apply Changes.

You should now be able to use your device online since you have opened a port on the pfSense firewall device.

What Is A Port?

A port is a software construct that allows a computer to communicate with another computer or device on a network. 

Why Do You Need To Open A Port?

To connect to the internet, you will need to open ports so that your firewall can have access to the network.

Forwarding Ports

Port forwarding is a technique that allows people to connect remotely from one computer to another on their local network. A hacker looks for in a home router is any open ports that they can exploit to gain access to your internal network and PCs or other devices connected to it (such as laptops)

If you forward a port on pfSense then this makes it easier for them to find one since every port forwards from pfSense will be accessible from anywhere else on the web.  To see how you can forward ports on pfSense, visit our article. [How To Port Forward On pfSense?]

Why Is It Important To Protect Ports With Firewalls?

It is important to protect ports and install firewalls and other security measures like antivirus software due to the number of cyber-attacks that happen online. Every new virus and malware is beginning created so it’s important to protect your network with a firewall.

When Should I Close My Port?

A good rule of thumb is if you know that you will not be using a port some time to time, then it may be a good idea to close it. For example, if you are going on vacation and will not be using your internet or any other devices that require an open port, then it might be a good idea to close all ports before going out of the country.

Tips For Opening Ports

Different versions of Windows have different methods for opening ports. The first thing you need to do is make sure that your version of Windows includes an option to open ports. For most newer versions, this option will already be available. 

If you are using an older version of Windows, then you might need to download another firewall program like Comodo or ZoneAlarm Pro. There are also programs like Hamachi that allow you to create virtual networks with friends; these also require ports to be opened on the firewall.

On Mac OS X, your network preferences can be found under System Preferences -> Network -> Wired or Wi-Fi (depending on which one you use). Click where it says Firewall and then click “Start” for the firewall to turn on. You will then need to add an “Allow” for your device to accept incoming connections.

List Of Ports And What They Are Used For

TCP 

Transmission Control Protocol: Used for establishing a connection between two devices or computers across the internet.

UDP

User Datagram Protocol: Used for broadcasting messages over the internet to multiple devices or computers.

TCP/UDP 

Transmission Control Protocol / User Datagram Protocol: Used for establishing a connection between two devices or computers across the internet, and also used for broadcasting messages over the internet to multiple devices or computers.

DNS 

Domain Name System: Used to resolve names into IP addresses that your browser uses when you visit a website. This port is usually only opened because it’s required for Internet browsing.

HTTPS (TLS) 

HyperText Transfer Protocol Secure (Transport Layer Security): Used for establishing an encrypted connection between your computer and a server on the Internet.

SSH 

Secure Shell: Used to securely access another system over the internet, also used for secure file transfers.

SCP 

Secure Copy Protocol: Used for transferring files between two devices or computers that are across the internet in an encrypted fashion.

SMB 

Server Message Block: Used for file transfers between computers on a network.

Conclusion

The internet is a vast world that can be explored in so many ways. However, it’s important to have an understanding of the ports being used when you are online and how they work. A good rule of thumb is if you know that you will not be using a port for some time to time, then it may be a good idea to close it. 

For example, if you are going on vacation and will not be using your internet or any other devices that require an open port, then it might be a good idea to close all ports before going out of the country. 

We hope this article has given you some insight into the opening and closing ports as well as why having them open (or closed) matters at all.