Are you looking for a guide that will point you in detail how to uninstall UPnP? Very well, you have found the article that is right for you! In this in-depth analysis, we will give you all the necessary instructions to uninstall this function. This is not a particularly long or complex procedure, but you will have to carefully follow the instructions in the next few lines.
So take a few minutes of free time: we are sure that, once you have finished reading the article, you will have a clearer picture of everything. But no more delays, let’s go!
How to uninstall UPnP
Before going into the details of the procedure to follow, let’s see what is UPnP. To understand this, it is first necessary to understand what is meant by port forwarding. This is the transfer of data over a network using a specific communication port. Basically, with port forwarding you can create a direct connection between two devices connected via a network.
The UPnP (Universal Plug and Play) is a protocol that allows a device or an app to automatically open a communication port in order to establish a direct connection. For example, you can use UPnP to ensure that all devices connected to your home network have access to your home printer. Without this protocol, the only way to get this access would be to manually configure each device you want to connect (see also How to use Internet Explorer Windows 11).
The UPnP protocol it is particularly useful for those devices that are difficult to configure, because they lack a graphical interface or have an interface that is difficult to manage. Devices such as security cameras or robot vacuum cleaners, for example, are completely without interfaces, yet they must be connected to the home router: thanks to UPnP it is possible to automate this process.
That said, now we can go and find out how to uninstall UPnP. We mentioned it in the previous lines: it is not a difficult operation to carry out. Here is what you need to do step by step:
- go to the router configuration panel
- access the UPnP section
- uncheck the box “Turn on UPnP“
- also check the open and forwarded ports in the appropriate section, such as “Port forwarding”, “Port forwarding” or “Forwarding/activating ports”
Perfect, you have finished the UPnP uninstall procedure.
Uninstall UPnP from your router. Here’s how
One question you might ask yourself before uninstalling is: but UPnP is secure? The UPnP protocol itself can be very secure: what makes it unsafe is its use not only locally, but also in connections outside the home network.
In fact, if you only use UPnP on your home network, UPnP is an extremely useful tool and as secure as your network is secure. However, many routers use UPnP outbound as the default, and this can cause problems.
Because UPnP allows you to connect directly to a device without the need for authentication, a hacker might be able to exploit this vulnerability to break into your home network and thus have access to all the devices connected to it. At this point the hacker would be able to perform different types of cyber attacks and take possession of personal data.
Great, now you should have a complete and exhaustive overview of how to uninstall UPnP. The only way to truly eliminate the problem is to disable UPnP completely. Obviously this can cause minor annoyances and make some operations a little more complicated. By disabling UPnP, in fact, the router will not allow any device to connect to it, unless this is specifically configured.
However, disabling UPnP is not enough to have a secure network: it is also essential to implement other security solutions, such as an online VPN to minimize the risk of cyber attacks and data theft. We therefore just have to give you an appointment for the next time, in the hope that our guide has been useful to you in practice. Soon!