Building A Robust Firewall With MikroTik Router Best Practices

Router security is a crucial aspect that we tend to overlook. We should always be proactive in ensuring the safety and security of our routers since they are our gateway to the internet. One of the ways to enhance router security is by implementing MikroTik Firewall on your router. MikroTik Firewall is known for its effectiveness in boosting router security, and in this post, we will look at a technique known as Port Knocking.

Port Knocking is an advanced technique of opening ports on a router. By default, routers have open ports, and this exposes them to possible hacking attempts. Port Knocking secures these ports by closing them and only opening them when the appropriate knock sequence has been input into the router's firewall. Read on to learn more about how Port Knocking can secure your router:

Securing Your Router with Port Knocking - The Steps

Here are some steps you can take to enhance your router's security using Port Knocking:

1. Install the MikroTik RouterOS

The first step is to ensure that you have the MikroTik RouterOS installed on your router. The RouterOS is one of the most important aspects of the MikroTik Firewall. It is a feature-rich operating system designed specifically for router management and security.

2. Create a Firewall Filter to Close All Ports

The next step is to create a Firewall filter on your router to close all ports except for port 22 and 8291, which are the ports used for SSH and the MikroTik web interface. This is a crucial step in the process since it makes sure that no ports are exposed to potential hacking attempts.

3. Create a Custom Knock Sequence

After closing all ports, we can now proceed to create a custom knock sequence. This sequence is the one that will be used to open ports within the firewall. The sequence should be one that is easy to remember but challenging to guess or replicate. We recommend using a sequence between three to five knocks.

4. Add the Firewall Rule to Open the Required Port

Once the knock sequence is in place, we now need to configure the firewall to listen to the sequence and open the required port when the sequence is input. The firewall should be configured to open the port for a specified amount of time for the client to initiate a connection. Once the connection has been established, the port is closed again.

5. Test the Knocking Sequence and Firewall Rules

The final step is to test the knocking sequence and the firewall rules to ensure that they are working effectively. Testing the rules ensures that the firewall is closed, and all ports are inaccessible by potential hackers. Conversely, testing the knocking sequence ensures that the firewall is opening the required ports when the sequence is input.

Conclusion

Router security is a crucial aspect of our online activities. By securing our routers, we protect ourselves from potential hacking attempts. Port Knocking is an effective technique for securing the ports on your router. By following the steps outlined above, you can enhance your router's security and protect your online activities. Remember to test the firewall rules and the knocking sequence to ensure that they are working effectively.