Question regarding security Jellyfin

[OuterGodHermit]

So I'm a complete noob regarding networking things. I bought a big drive today to start storing movies and series; all I want is to watch them on my TV. I installed Jellyfin, pointed it to my movie folder, created a user for my wife, and installed the Jellyfin app on my Android TV, it recognized the server and worked. 

My question is, does any of this mean that it can be accessed from outside? How can I know that all is safe? What options do I have to be aware of? I'm not planning now to leave the server on, just fire it up on my PC, go to my TV, and watch stuff from there without having to cast. 

Also, I rent a portion of a home, so I don't have access to the router, and I don't want the host the be able to see my server on their tv (although I highly doubt they have the Jellyfin app). 

[Eigenvektor]

1 hour ago, OuterGodHermit said:

My question is, does any of this mean that it can be accessed from outside? How can I know that all is safe? What options do I have to be aware of?

Nothing in your home network is reachable from the outside world, unless you explicitly set up port forwarding in your modem/router (the one you got from your ISP) or if you have an open Wi-Fi network (i.e. no encryption turned on, like WPA2/WPA3)

 

1 hour ago, OuterGodHermit said:

Also, I rent a portion of a home, so I don't have access to the router, and I don't want the host the be able to see my server on their tv (although I highly doubt they have the Jellyfin app). 

In that case you need your own router between your network and the ISP modem/router's network. Otherwise you're part of the same private network and any open ports and machines are technically visible to your host.

[AI_Must_Di3]

@OuterGodHermit Youre making it way more complicated then it needs to be. If your TV has a usb port, you can put a hdd in a external hdd box and hook it up to your TV, switch over to that input and watch whatever is on it. No internet needed, just your tv remote.

[Kilrah]

It's also way less nice than the Jellyfin UI, won't work for files in formats that the TV doesn't support,...

[Bersella AI]

I might consider an additional router to block access from others inside the house, and provide Wi-Fi signals exclusively for myself. Then, purchase a mini PC (with Celeron N5105 or N100/N95 processor), set up a VPN (using Wireguard, Tailscale, etc.), connect this "big drive" (via USB) & the TV (via HDMI) to it, and call it a day. A simple solution without requiring Jellyfin.

[AI_Must_Di3]

On 10/27/2023 at 2:32 AM, Kilrah said:

It's also way less nice than the Jellyfin UI, won't work for files in formats that the TV doesn't support,...

How nice you want it to be, who cares as long as it lists the file and you can click it. Although, your second point is a little more important cause that is true if you go that way. Ive had to convert a few files over that ive done this with like flv's and then reload the new file on the drive.

[Needfuldoer]

On 10/27/2023 at 4:10 AM, Bersella AI said:

I might consider an additional router to block access from others inside the house, and provide Wi-Fi signals exclusively for myself. Then, purchase a mini PC (with Celeron N5105 or N100/N95 processor), set up a VPN (using Wireguard, Tailscale, etc.), connect this "big drive" (via USB) & the TV (via HDMI) to it, and call it a day. A simple solution without requiring Jellyfin.

"Simple", eh?