webHauser Blog

Port forwarding forwards all traffic on a specific port (or range of ports) from the firewall to a computer on the internal LAN. This can be required to support special situations. For instance, this is the only way to support file transfers with an ICQ client on an internal computer. It’s also required if an internal system hosts a service such as a web server. However, it’s also a dangerous option. It allows Internet computers access to your internal network. Use it carefully and only if you’re certain you know what you’re doing.