Although, par excellence, Windows 10 is currently the most widely used operating system worldwide, the truth is that many users still choose to use the famous Windows 8 as their main operating system. Since, despite its criticisms, it is a utility that offers great efficiency without depending on hardware performance.
Besides that, Windows 8 stands out for being an OS that provides compatibility with external devices, it has a program antimalware own and is highly customizable. Thanks to this, users have the possibility to optimize their experience in favor of their requirements. Even, W8 makes it easy to deploy a public VPN network.
Therefore, to ensure your safety as a user in Windows 8, it is recommended to create a public VPN network with the aim of acquiring a network connection fully protected. That is why, below, we tell you everything about this OS tool in order to be able to avoid being a victim of any cybercriminal.
What are the advantages of using a VPN when browsing the Internet?
While it is true, a VPN refers to a connection that offers the possibility of create a local network, without the need for its members to be physically connected to each other, but through the Internet. In other words, even when you obtain the advantages of the local network with greater flexibility, its virtual component is the key point to offer more benefits.
In that sense, VPN networks or "Virtual Private Network" they are defined as a type of network in which an extension of a private network is created over a public network. As a consequence, the open network is used as a vehicle to connect to a private network and thus, be able to navigate safely as you do from home, even if you are in a public place. Therefore, this utility takes care of isolate your connected devices (smartphones, tablets or laptops) from the rest of the traffic on the public network.
So for example, if you connect to a WiFi network open of a shopping center, it is as if you are driving on the same road as other people, but with certain benefits. This means that while others travel by bus and have no privacy, with your VPN network it is as if you are traveling in your own vehicle in which nobody can know what you are doing, even when traveling on the same road.
Therefore, the use of a Virtual Private Network when browsing the network is essential and offers important advantages, such as:
- Establish a secure connection to the Internet: Mainly, VPN networks have the ability to encrypt your data and protect your movements on the Internet, swiftly. Thanks to that, hackers they will not have the possibility to get your private information or spy on your confidential data over public WiFi networks.
- Avoid geoblocking: A network of this type can help you avoid censorship and geo-blocking of content on the Internet. Because they offer the possibility of connect to a server in another country to simulate a different IP address than the real one. Well, your device communicates with the VPN server and it is this one that talks to the Internet.
- Ignore the speed limit: If you connect to the Internet through a VPN tunnel, your ISP will not be able to see exactly what you are doing on the network and therefore, it will be very difficult for me to limit your speed. This, for example, when watching streaming content, which is when download speeds are reduced the most.
- Bypass firewall: Both locally and nationally, VPN networks they are ideal to be able to avoid firewalls. For example, a firewall at a university that prevents you from connecting to websites like YouTube or Netflix.
- Works in all applications: Typically, VPN networks take care of routing all traffic on the Internet And as a consequence, they work in all applications different from proxy servers.
Learn step by step how to create a public VPN network in Windows 8
Now, as we mentioned at the beginning of the post, Windows 8 is an operating system that offers the possibility of create a public VPN network, in a simple way, so that its users acquire a higher level of protection when browsing the Internet. Therefore, surely, you wonder how this can be done from the PC.
That is why, below, we will explain each step to follow to create your own VPN in W8:
Open the network connection panel
First of all, to start configuring Windows 8 as VPN server, you need to enter the network connection panel. This is carried out through the command "ncpa.cpl". Once you access said panel, it is time to click on the tab "Archive" located at the top and in that menu, proceed to select "New incoming connection".
Choose which user will have access via VPN
Later, the system assistant will ask you which user will have access via VPN and, generally, in these cases, you choose to choose the Administrator account. In addition, it is appropriate that you determine if the connection will be from the Internet. For which, you have to activate the corresponding box and then click on the "Next" button.
Proceed to allow the VPN network access
Then in the window "Allow connections to this computer", you have to leave the boxes by default and click on the button below that says "Allow access". Once that is done, a new screen will be displayed showing the name of the device that will be connected and there, It only remains to press the "Close" button in the bottom. With which, you will have configured that your Windows 8 PC support connections of the type VPN.
Open the Network and Sharing Center
Once you have enabled port forwarding in your router or firewall, in addition to knowing your public IP address and the hostname, like the IP of your connection ISP, the username and password; it's time to open the Network Center from the start bar of the computer.
Select the option "Set up a new connection or network"
Once this is done, in the Network and Sharing Center window, it is time to click on "Set up a new connection or network". Then, among the new options available, you have to choose "Connect to a workspace" in order to proceed to press the button Following. Additionally, in the window after the previous one, click on "Use my Internet connection (VPN)" when they ask you "How do you want to connect?".
Create the public VPN network to finish
Later, in the field that says "Internet adress", you need to enter the public IP address corresponding to your ISP. In case you have a hostname, you can also write it there (for example: DynDNS or other similar service). Added to that, you have to establish an original name for identification, in the field that says "Destination name". Done that, all that remains is click on the "Create" button from the bottom. Leaving everything else, by default.
Connect to your new public VPN network on W8
Now, from the network panel, you must select the network you have created and so, proceed to click "Connect". Next, enter the username and password, to click on "Accept" and with this, you will be able to observe the status of the established connection, directly from the server side W8 VPN that has been connected.
List of the best VPNs for Windows 8 that you should know
In addition to the possibility that exists in W8 for create a public VPN network In order to make the connection more secure, users of this operating system also can download and install a commercially available VPN. But, since there are numerous free solutions and some are not as reliable or secure, it is opportune to let you know some of the best.
That is why, in this section of the post, we will mention and detail three of the most optimal VPNs for Windows 8 that you have to know and try in order to acquire a more protected Internet browsing:
ProtonVPN
Download ProtonVPN Windows
Download ProtonVPN MacOS
NordVPN
Download NordVPN Windows
TunnelBear
Download TunnelBear Windows