Port Forwarding PS4 can be done via different methods depending upon the type of router you have. However, the basic steps to port forward your PS4 are the same. Here’s how you can do it:
- Go to the Settings option in your PS4.
- Navigate to Network and select View Connection Status.
- You will see the IP and MAC addresses of your PS4 there.
- Note them down somewhere as they are vital for Port Forwarding PS4.
- Next, go to your router’s login page and log in.
- Now assign the static IP address to your router, which you have noted down earlier from your PS4.
- Locate Port Forwarding rules.
- Add the following rules:
- For TCP 80, 443, 3478, 3480, 3479.
- For UDP 3479, 3478.
- Once done, reboot your router, and the changes will be saved.
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Some of the VPN companies do combine Port Forwarding with their VPN software; however, cyber security experts do not recommend having an open port while you are online over the internet for whatever purpose.
Whether you are streaming movies online, gaming, or even browsing, having open ports can have an adverse effect, and you might end up with malware on your devices.
VPN or Virtual Private Networks are majorly used to hide your identity online by encrypting your internet traffic and diverting it via a server away from your location. The process works solely to mask a user’s online activity from spying on organizations, hackers, cybercriminals, and malicious software.
Also, VPNs do address the issue of unblocking region-locked content and restricted websites. They operate on the agenda of letting their clients experience complete internet freedom as it was supposed to be.
Additional layers of security with features like Double Hop, AES-256 bit encryption, Static IP Addresses, Tor Network, Split-Tunneling, etc., help you attain complete anonymity over the internet, and not even a single soul can track what you do online.
Currently, the best VPNs in the market are ExpressVPN, NordVPN, and Surfshark VPN. However, if you are looking for the best Gaming VPN, we recommend you opt for NordVPN as it has been tested thoroughly in the field and has never failed till today.
What is Port Forwarding?
The technique via which external devices are connected to private networks is termed Port Forwarding. If you allow Port Forwarding, your external devices can gain access to computer services on private networks.
Port Forwarding adopts the process by mapping external ports to an internal IP address and port; that’s why most online gaming applications require you to configure Port Forwarding on your routers at home.
To get a complete understanding of Port Forwarding, you need to know about:
- Ports
- IP addresses.
- TCP/IP ports.
- Internal & external IP addresses.
- Internal & external ports.
Port Forwarding is also termed port mapping, which is an application of NAT or Network Address Translation.
What is NAT & NAT Types?
The communication between servers and computers is done via IP addresses.
To put things in perspective, you should know that there are almost 4.3 billion possible IPv4 addresses. In the 1990s, engineers assumed that this number of IP addresses would be enough for everyone; however, they were proved wrong.
The modern tech of IPv6 has been put in place to deal with this problem, but it has not been fully deployed yet. With IPv6, there are about 340 trillion trillion trillion combinations that can be made.
The limited number of IPv4 addresses gave birth to the need for NAT or Network Address Translation. The purpose of NAT is to ensure that the user does not find themselves in a place where there are no more IP addresses available.
NAT operates by allowing your router to act as a mediator between your private network and the internet. You are then assigned one public IP address used to communicate with the internet, along with several/multiple private IP addresses, which are assigned to the devices connected to your network. This approach solves the problem of limited IPv4 addresses where one single IP address covers the entire Network.
NAT converts private IP addresses to public and vice versa. There are three types of NAT Types (generally speaking):
- Open/NAT Type 1
- Moderate/NAT Type 2
- Strict/NAT Type 3
With NAT Type 1, your PS4 will be connected directly to the internet, and the need for configuring NAT with your router is not required. NAT Type 1 is insecure and does not contain a firewall to protect your device. However, you will not suffer from speed lagging or buffering during your online gaming sessions. Even though you will have a smooth gaming experience with this type of NAT, you can end up with malware or DDoS attacks.
Moderate/NAT Type 2 is the most commonly used NAT Type for PS4 worldwide. Unlike NAT Type 1, with NAT Type 2, your device is connected to the internet via your router. It uses predetermined ports and can forward packets, thus, making it more secure than Type 1. The aspect of speed will not be as efficient as you will experience with NAT Type 1.
The Strict/NAT Type 3 is not meant for gamer heads. Even though it is the most secure NAT Type out of the three, it is not an ideal solution for online gaming. NAT Type 3 allows you to perform additional firewall settings on your router and provides you with the most secured connection. Also, you can perform Port Forwarding with NAT Type 3.