SSHtunnels

SSHtunnels, also known as SSH tunneling or SSH port forwarding, is a method of creating an encrypted connection between a local computer and a remote server using the Secure Shell (SSH) protocol. This encrypted connection can then be used to forward network traffic from one machine to another. It essentially creates a secure pathway through an otherwise insecure network.

There are three main types of SSH tunneling: local, remote, and dynamic port forwarding. Local port forwarding allows you to access a service on a remote network from your local machine by forwarding a local port to a port on the remote server. Remote port forwarding does the opposite, making a local service accessible from a remote machine via a port on the SSH server. Dynamic port forwarding creates a SOCKS proxy on your local machine, allowing multiple applications to route their traffic securely through the SSH server.

SSHtunnels are commonly used to secure unencrypted network protocols, bypass firewalls, or access resources that are not directly exposed to the internet. For example, one might use an SSH tunnel to access a database server that is only intended for internal network access, or to securely browse the web through a trusted remote server. The SSH protocol itself handles the encryption and authentication, ensuring the confidentiality and integrity of the forwarded data.