Remote-access Guide

plex secure remote access

by Abbey Thompson I Published 2 years ago Updated 1 year ago
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How to properly secure remote access?

  • Windows or Mac login when connecting remotely
  • Request permission to connect to the user’s computer
  • Automatically blank the remote screen when connected
  • Automatically lock remote computer when disconnected
  • Lock the remote computer’s keyboard and mouse while in session
  • Lock the streamer settings using Splashtop admin credentials

How to enable remote access on Plex Media Server?

Remote Access

  • Quick Guide. If Remote Access is currently disabled, then use the Enable Remote Access button to trigger your server to try to configure a connection.
  • Normal Settings. The information displayed by default will depend on the current state of the Plex Media Server. ...
  • Advanced Settings. ...

Do you need Plex Pass for remote access?

However, the perception is that you need a premium Plex Pass to watch remotely. It's not true. All users can stream remotely providing you've configured your Plex Server correctly. Head to Settings > Remote Access > Enable Remote Access to set it up.

Do I need a VPN for Plex remote access?

· 4y You shouldn't need a VPN to share via Plex, assuming you are sending the content over SSL which is the vast majority of use cases. Just to speak generally, if you were to send data to someone over the VPN it would be the people on the other end receiving the data in an unencrypted format.

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How do I secure Plex remote access?

By default the Secure Connections on your Plex Media Server is set to preferred. Meaning there isn't even anything special you need to do unless you want it required at all times. Sign in to your Plex account in the server. Under Settings > Server > Network in the Plex Web App.

Is it safe to enable Plex remote access?

For Plex, security really does appear to be a top priority. It provides all-round security to ensure that your media library, Plex account/server details, and Plex-connected devices for streaming are all kept safe from data leaks, privacy infringement, and hacking attempts.

What does Plex remote access do?

Enable access to your Plex Media Server from outside your local network so that you can reach it when away from home or for sharing content with family or close, personal friends. You can do this under Settings > Server > Remote Access in Plex Web App.

Is Plex a security risk?

UPDATED Security researchers uncovered vulnerabilities in Plex that created a means for attackers to compromise devices or access private video or picture files on a vulnerable server.

Can Plex server be hacked?

"Plex's startup processes unintentionally expose a Plex UPnP-enabled service registration responder to the general Internet, where it can be abused to generate reflection/amplification DDoS attacks," Netscout researchers said in a Thursday alert.

Does Plex monitor what you watch?

Your personal content is stored on your personal hardware (“Personal Content”). Except in the limited circumstances described below, we do not collect filenames or content titles of your Personal Content. We do, however, keep usage statistics to allow us to better serve you and improve our Services.

Is Plex remote access free?

All of our non-mobile, public apps are free (with the exception of Plex Labs apps). These include Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, Plex HTPC, Roku, Smart TVs, Windows & macOS computers and game consoles (PlayStation and Xbox).

Do I need a VPN when using Plex?

Since Plex can be installed on a plethora of platforms, you'll want a VPN service that supports multiple operating systems.

Is Plex a VPN?

PLEX SERVER VPN:Private Internet Access is a great option for users who wan to remotely stream from their own Plex server. It comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee. Read our full Private Internet Access.

Is Plex vulnerable to log4j?

The Plex Industrial Internet of Things product was affected by the vulnerability, but the proper mitigation technique has been put into place and it is no longer affected. A patch will be released on Monday to upgrade the product to Log4j2 version 2.15 which is not susceptible to the vulnerability.

Is it safe to open Plex port?

Yes, port forwarding Plex is safe. Just make sure your internet connection is secured with AES 256-bit encryption for optimal online privacy and security.

How do I secure my connection to the server?

Secure Server ConnectivityEstablish and Use a Secure Connection. ... Use SSH Keys Authentication. ... Secure File Transfer Protocol. ... Secure Sockets Layer Certificates. ... Use Private Networks and VPNs. ... Monitor Login Attempts. ... Manage Users. ... Establish Password Requirements.More items...•

Should I use a VPN with Plex?

If you're experiencing slow speeds when trying to stream your Plex videos, you could be a victim of ISP throttling. This can be avoided with a VPN for Plex as it safeguards all the data you send across the Internet using AES 256-bit encryption.

How do I secure Plex remote access Reddit?

Don't port forward plex.Get a domain.Setup a webserver (nginx) and certbot for SSL certificates.Setup cloudflare for proxy and use their firewall rules to block non US based IPs and know bots.Setup your firewall to open port 443, but only allow incoming requests from a cloudflare IP.Disable remote access in Plex.More items...•

What version of Plex Media Server is needed for secure connections?

Secure connections require Plex Media Server version 0.9.12.3 or newer. So, make sure you’re running a current version of the server.

How Do I Know Connections Are Secure?

Basically, in a default Plex setup, if you don’t see any information indicating otherwise, then the connection to the server is secure. When a secure connection to a server is not available, the app will typically indicate either that the connection is insecure or that a connection cannot be made (because it would be insecure and that isn’t allowed in the app).

What happens if your server doesn't support secure connections?

If any of your associated servers don’t support secure connections, those insecure servers will not be accessible in the app. You can instead try loading the local/bundled web app that comes with the server install.

What does it mean when a secure connection is not available?

When a secure connection to a server is not available, the app will typically indicate either that the connection is insecure or that a connection cannot be made (because it would be insecure and that isn’t allowed in the app). When a secure connection is not available, it’s typically clearly indicated, such as in the web app:

Is Plex server secure?

Basically, in a default Plex setup, if you don’t see any information indicating otherwise, then the connection to the server is secure. When a secure connection to a server is not available, the app will typically indicate either that the connection is insecure or that a connection cannot be made (because it would be insecure and that isn’t allowed in the app).

How to force HTTPS connection?

You can, of course, attempt to force an HTTPS connection simply by using https:// in the URL. If you do so, since the server’s certificate isn’t for “localhost” (for example), your browser will almost certainly warn you that there isn’t a valid certificate for that connection.

Can a media server be remotely accessed?

Last of all, the media server can be accessed both remotely and on a LAN. At any given time, it may be accessible via multiple addresses. Certificates are generally associated with a small set of unchanging IP addresses. So we’ve worked some DNS magic to remove that limitation, and make things Just Work.

What is plex server?

Plex has become a popular server and software choice for anyone who wants to easily organize, stream, and share their media libraries - including their favorite movies and music. Plex Media Server can be installed on your main desktop, enabling you to manage all your media in one place and then stream it on as many platforms ...

Why use a VPN for Plex?

A VPN is a useful way to protect your online security and safety. If you already use a VPN for streaming, or wish to use one alongside Plex, it can add an extra layer of privacy to your Plex server and account. It might also help prevent possible problems encountered while streaming, such as bandwidth throttling (which can cause buffering).

Why is there a green lock on Plex?

Furthermore, on the Plex app interface, the green lock icon is easily visible to signify that your server, media library and currently used device all have secure connections.

Does Plex have SSL certificates?

Since 2015, Plex has provided all its users with free SSL certificates for their Plex media servers.

Is Plex a security system?

For Plex, security really does appear to be a top priority. It provides all-round security to ensure that your media library, Plex account/server details, and Plex-connected devices for streaming are all kept safe from data leaks, privacy infringement, and hacking attempts. It also provides security measures to ensure you can share your media ...

Can you share media on Plex?

Plex enables you to share media with friends and family. With your permission, other people can browse and stream the media on your Plex server.

Is Plex streaming secure and safe to use?

For Plex, security really does appear to be a top priority. It provides all-round security to ensure that your media library, Plex account/server details, and Plex-connected devices for streaming are all kept safe from data leaks, privacy infringement, and hacking attempts. It also provides security measures to ensure you can share your media library safely with friends and family.

How to check if Plex is disabled?

While logged into your Plex Media Server’s web control panel, select the Settings icon from the upper right toolbar. Within the Settings menu select, the “Server” tab.

How to set up static IP address on Plex?

You’ll need to identify your Plex Media Server computer on the network and then look for an option in your router to create a “static IP”, “static lease”, or “DHCP reservation” to permanently associate the Plex Media Center with a given IP address. Below you can see an example of what adding a static IP address looks like, via our DD-WRT router.

How to port forward on Plex?

First, let’s turn on the manual port mode in Plex. To do so navigate to Settings > Server > Remote Access (as we did in the previous section of the tutorial).

What does the control panel indicate on Plex?

In addition to telling you that the server is accessible, the control panel will also indicate the internal IP address and port number of the Plex Media Server on your local network as well as external, or public, IP address and port number.

Can you use Plex Media Server on a TV?

If you primarily use Plex Media Server for watching content on your local network (like streaming your favorite shows to your HDTV or smartphone), you may not have given much though to the benefits of remote access. RELATED: How to Set Up Plex (and Watch Your Movies on Any Device)

Can you watch Plex on your phone?

One of the greatest things about the Plex Media Server platform, however, is the ease with which you can access your media from anywhere. With remote access enabled and properly configured, you can watch your favorite TV shows anywhere you have internet access: on your phone while you’re sitting in a waiting room, on your laptop while you’re vacationing, or even on a smart TV at a friend’s house.

Can you disable remote access on Plex?

During the initial setup of the Plex Media Server, the setup wizard prompts you to enable or disable remote access. While the default state is enabled, you may have opted at the time to disable remote access, or perhaps you inadvertently disabled it while messing around with the system settings later on. Regardless, it’s easy enough to check the status of remote access and enable it if it is currently disabled.

How to know if a Plex connection is secure?

You will know if secure connections work if you see green locks in your address bar and beside your server name inside your secure Plex dashboard.

Can you install Plex Media Server from One Click?

Plex Media Server can be installed from our One-Click installers as well.

What is plex media server?

The Plex Media Server is smart software that makes playing Movies, TV Shows and other media on your computer simple.

What is a plex meta manager?

A few months ago I discovered Plex Meta Manager (I am not affiliated with the project in any way), which is essentially a set of scheduled scripts that read instructions from YML config files on how to tweak the metadata of various media items within a Plex library. Ultimately, it's meant to serve as a repository of information (links to posters, custom metadata tweaks, etc.) that's super easy to back up and can be easily restored if you were to experience data loss that impacted your Plex data.

How to restrict access to VM via VPN?

On the host, setup a network share for storage of media files. Using your firewall/iptables/etc depending on your platform , restrict access to the network share port over the VPN.

Is it easier to back up plex?

As someone who has found it a pain to back up Plex's appdata in the past, it's been a breath of fresh air. While the initial time investment is substantial (configuring the YML files with your metadata changes), I've found it much easier to manage than backing up databases or the millions of files in Plex's appdata folder.

Does PMM connect to TMDb?

PMM connects to a number of other services. I've configured it to connect to Sonarr and Radarr, so if it finds movies/shows in my TMDb lists that don't exist anywhere in my library , it'll automatically add them to Sonarr and Radarr to be monitored.

Which iPhone is good for plex?

Apple iPhone (X and Xs): An excellent mobile platform for Plex. Basically every file-type I have tried to stream from Plex streams using direct play. Plex does not have perform any transcoding (file conversions) because the iPhone essentially can play everything. ------.

Why is the risk not the open port itself but the program which is listening on the port?

The risk is not the open port itself but the program which is listening on the port because the program is what enables security holes.

Does Plex use SSL?

Plex uses their own certificate to create an SSL connection to the plex server. This is a good thing so the communication between the client and the server is encrypted and not even your ISP is able to look into your traffic if they want to.

Does Plex take forever to load?

At least for me, for some reason on regular Plex apps such as the Windows 10 app, the iPhone app, or the web app, it always takes forever for search results and library pages to load but actually streaming a show doesn't take much time to load at all .

Is plex secure?

IMO, you are already pretty secure what plex natively provides. You can set the "secure connections" to "required" but then you will not be able to access the server with an IP address in your own network.

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