Port scrambling usage in heterogeneous networks

An apparatus comprising:

• a network connection configured for connecting said apparatus with a network, wherein port scrambling and port descrambling are employed by the network, wherein said port scrambling is based on a transformation function, wherein said port descrambling is based on an inverse of the transformation function;
• a device connection configured for connecting said apparatus to a device, wherein the device is configured to communicate with devices of the network;
• a port scrambling module configured to receive an incoming communication directed from the device towards the network, apply said port scrambling using the transformation function and transferring the incoming communication via a scrambled port to the network;
• and,
• a port descrambling module configured to receive an outgoing communication directed from the network towards the device, apply said port descrambling using the inverse of the transformation function and transferring the outgoing communication via a descrambled port to the device.

An apparatus comprising:

• a first network connection configured for connecting said apparatus with a first network, wherein port scrambling and port descrambling are employed by the first network, wherein said port scrambling is based on a transformation function, wherein said port descrambling is based on an inverse of the transformation function;
• a second network connection configured for connecting said apparatus to a second network;
• a port scrambling module configured to receive an incoming communication directed from the second network towards the first network, apply the port scrambling using the transformation function and transferring the incoming communication via a scrambled port to the first network;
• and,
• a port descrambling module configured to receive an outgoing communication directed from the first network towards the second network, apply the port descrambling using the inverse of the transformation function and transferring the outgoing communication via a descrambled port to the second network.

A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable storage medium retaining program instructions, which program instructions when read by a processor, cause the processor to perform a method comprising:

• responsive to receiving a communication directed towards a network, wherein port scrambling and port descrambling are employed by the network, performing the steps of:
• applying a transformation function on a port at which the communication is directed to be received, whereby obtaining a scrambled port;
• and,
• redirecting the communication to be received at the scrambled port;
• and,
• responsive to receiving a communication from the network directed outside thereof, performing the steps of:
• applying an inverse of the transformation function on a port at which the communication is directed to be received, whereby obtaining a descrambled port;
• and,
• redirecting the communication to be received at the descrambled port;
• wherein each device belonging to the network is configured for performing selective port scrambling of outgoing communications and port descrambling of incoming communications, wherein said selective port scrambling is performed by utilizing the transformation function, wherein said port descrambling is performed by utilizing the inverse of the transformation function.