The goal of dynamic port forwarding is to enable clients to connect securely to a trusted server that acts as an intermediary for the purpose of sending/receiving data to one or many destination servers.
Dynamic port forwarding is implemented by setting up a local SOCKS proxy server with ssh client, which can be used to process data transmissions through the network or over the Internet.
Dynamic port forwarding is a powerful tool with many uses:
- A user connected to the Internet through a coffee shop, hotel, or otherwise minimally secure network may wish to use DPF as a way of protecting data.
- Can be used to bypass firewalls that restrict access to outside websites, such as in a corporate network.
- Can be used as a precaution against hacking.
Dynamic port forwarding over ssh is in a way a simple alternative to VPN.