Encrypted connection to FurryMUCK using stunnel

[captpackrat]

The default connection to FurryMUCK is plain text, anyone using a packet sniffer can read anything you send or receive, including your username and password!  FM has offered a secure connection port for several years now, but it requires either a client designed for SSL or a wrapper program such as stunnel.  If you use a wrapper, you can continue to use your current client.

Here's how to use stunnel version 4.20, which runs as a Windows Service so it's always available.

Step 1:  Download and install the latest version of stunnel

Step 2:  Click on Start --> Programs --> stunnel --> Edit stunnel.conf

Step 3:  Delete everything in the conf file and paste the following:

socket = l:TCP_NODELAY=1
socket = r:TCP_NODELAY=1
client = yes
service = STunnel to FurryMUCK
taskbar = no

[FurryMUCK]
accept = 8899
connect = furrymuck.com:8899

Step 4:  Save the file and exit Notepad.

Step 5:  Click on Start --> Programs --> stunnel --> Service install

Step 6:  Click on Start --> Programs --> stunnel --> Service start

Step 7:  Change the settings in your MU program to point to 127.0.0.1:8899 instead of furrymuck.com:8888

Step 8:  Connect to FurryMUCK and enjoy having a secure connection that others can't eavesdrop on! 



You can also use stunnel 3.26 instead.  This version has to be started each time you want a secure connection; it doesn't run as a service.  However, this means you can run it from a USB drive without needing to install anything.

Step 1:  Download the latest 3.x version of stunnel and the OpenSSL library openssl.zip (available near the bottom of the same page)

Step 2:  Unzip the openssl.zip file into a folder.

Step 3:  Copy the stunnel binary into that folder.

Step 4:  Open Notepad and copy and paste the following:

stunnel.exe -c -d 8899 -r furrymuck.com:8899

Step 5:  Save into the same folder as stunnel and openssl, using the name FurryMUCK.bat  (You can name it whatever you want, but it must have a .BAT extension!), then exit Notepad

Step 6:  Double-click on FurryMUCK.bat to start the SSL wrapper.

Step 7:  Change the settings in your MU program to point to 127.0.0.1:8899 instead of furrymuck.com:8888

Step 8:  Connect to FurryMUCK and enjoy having a secure connection that others can't eavesdrop on! 

Comments

[rigelkitty.livejournal.com]

That's awesome, thank you! I always thought connecting to FM from work via a secure connection was too techie for me to accomplish.