Hi everyone,
I am setting up my UGREEN for access when I am away from home.
UGREENlink seems to be the easiest option but I have seen a few people online saying it is not the most secure way to access your NAS.
Is UGREENlink actually safe to use for everyday access, or would you recommend wireshark or tailscale. Are they easy to setup .
I only need to access my files and photos occasionally when I am travelling, so I am looking for something that is both secure and easy to set up.
No idea, never used it, but it relies on a third party service that you have zero control over and technically they could see everything you send via their service. Keep in mind that xinese companies are bound by certain laws that allows the government over there access if they want it. Not dissing Ugreen here, it’s just a matter of fact.
Wireshark is a protocol test tool, I think you mean WireGuard?
Keep in mind that for some things, you might want to set up a reverse proxy, it makes your life a lot easier, as you don’t have to connect via VPN first to then be able to access your NAS. I wrote a guide here on how to set up Zoraxy a while back, although it’s gotten easier to use since then. This does require that you’re not behind GCNAT and that you have access to a DDNS service of some kind though.
WireGuard would be the easiest option, especially if your router supports it, it’s how I access things I don’t want facing the internet. Something like OpenVPN would do the job as well, various routers supports one or the other.
It really comes down to what kind of access you need, but having a VPN in your home that you connect to is the easiest way to do it, but it’s a bit fiddly.
How UGREENlink Works (P2P vs. Relay)
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Direct P2P Connection: When you connect remotely, UGREENlink first attempts a direct peer-to-peer (P2P) connection via NAT traversal. If successful, data flows directly between your device and your NAS.
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Cloud Relay Mode: If P2P fails (e.g., due to strict CGNAT, corporate firewalls, or double-NAT), traffic is routed through UGREEN’s cloud relay servers.
Key Security Concerns
1. TLS Encryption (Not End-to-End Encrypted)
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Traffic over UGREENlink is encrypted in transit using TLS/HTTPS.
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However, UGREENlink does not use End-to-End Encryption (E2EE) when operating in relay mode. Because relay servers broker the connection handshake, metadata and relay traffic pass through vendor-controlled infrastructure.
2. Direct Exposure of Local Credentials
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Accessing a NAS via a UGREENlink URL/ID leads directly to your NAS’s web login prompt.
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If a local NAS account relies on a simple password or lacks Two-Factor Authentication (2FA), anyone with your UGREENlink ID can attempt to log into your NAS.
3. Vendor Infrastructure Dependency
- Relying on cloud-assisted remote access means service availability depends on UGREEN’s relay uptime and cloud security practices.
Recommended Security Hardening for UGREENlink Users
If you choose to use UGREENlink for convenience, enforce these essential security controls:
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Enable 2FA (Two-Factor Authentication): Go to Control Panel → Personal / Account Security and bind a TOTP app (Google Authenticator, Bitwarden, 1Password, etc.).
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Enable Account Blocking: Set auto-block rules under Control Panel → Security to lock out IP addresses after 3–5 failed sign-in attempts.
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Use Unique Local Passwords: Never use the same password for local NAS admin accounts as your cloud accounts.
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Enable HTTPS Only: Ensure secure connection enforcement is turned on in portal settings.
The Best Practice Alternative: Self-Hosted VPN (Tailscale / WireGuard)
For maximum security and privacy, most advanced NAS users disable UGREENlink entirely and use a virtual private network (VPN):
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Tailscale / WireGuard: Creates a secure, encrypted mesh network directly between your mobile phone/laptop and the NAS.
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Benefits:
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Your NAS login portal remains completely invisible to the public internet.
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No data is routed unencrypted through vendor relay servers.
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Works seamlessly across CGNAT without port forwarding.
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