The one security feature missing from Windows that you should add

Did you know that Windows is lacking an important security feature? It has a built in firewall that protects against hackers and anti-malware that stops viruses, but it needs something else.

Windows Firewall is quite good at protecting PCs on network from hackers and other external threats. It can block incoming connections so unwanted people and programs cannot get into your PC or access its files.

Windows Defender these days is quite effective at protecting the computer against malware like viruses and spyware. Many people trust Defender to keep their PCs safe and don’t bother with third party antivirus.

Windows missing security

So what is missing from Windows Security Center? Open it and take a look. A Windows VPN.

This is an essential security utility that many people can benefit from. It is particularly useful if you use Windows on a laptop computer that is used at public Wi-Fi hotspots like cafes, hotels, airports, trains and so on. You should not travel with your laptop without a Windows VPN client.

(VPNs also work on Apple Macs, mobile phones and tablets too, so even if your PC never leaves your home, your phone certainly does and it needs protecting.)

The reason is that public places offering wireless internet access are often not secure and a VPN provides the security you need when going online in public. You never know who might be monitoring or intercepting network activity at a public Wi-Fi hotspot and a VPN enables you to create a secure and private connection to the internet. No-one around you or the controller of the Wi-Fi hotspot will be able to see what you are doing.

Public Wi-Fi is often restricted to make it child-friendly and to block certain types of content and occasionally it can be so bad that little else can be accessed apart from Google, Facebook and a handful of other websites.

Not all are so restricted, but you can still come up against barriers preventing access to sites you want to use. See Use a VPN when you are travelling to improve internet access. Even popular sites like Pinterest can be blocked with public Wi-Fi. A VPN unblocks the internet and enables access to sites that are blocked by public Wi-Fi.

If a VPN is so important, why does Microsoft not include it? The reason is that a VPN service requires setting up and maintaining servers around the world for users to connect to. There are thought to be 1 billion Windows PCs in regular use and it just isn’t possible for one company, even the size of Microsoft, to support that number.

How does a VPN work?

A VPN is simply a program that is run on the computer. It is used connect the PC to a VPN server and there are many located around the world. If you just want private and secure internet then you can connect to a VPN server near to your current location, but it is just as easy to connect to a server in another country. Some people use this feature to enable them to appear to be in another country.

The PC to VPN server connection is encrypted and this provides the missing Windows security that is so essential. All internet activity takes place through this encrypted connection and it keeps eavesdroppers and hackers out.

It also hides your real IP address and an alternative one is used. If anyone were to record your IP, as websites commonly do, they would only see the VPN server’s IP address and not your real one. It adds to your privacy.

You can browse the web, access your email, watch online video, and so on, just as you did before, but in a more secure and private way.

Which VPN should you use?

There are many VPNs and the choice can seem to be overwhelming at first. There are both paid and free Windows VPNs, but although free ones seem attractive, they often suffer from perform performance issues and your internet connection will slow to a crawl. Sometimes they can be so busy it is hard to get a web page to display.

Paid VPNs offer more servers to connect to and provide faster internet connections. In fact, you won’t notice any speed difference when the VPN is on. You just get a more secure, more private internet, with normally blocked websites unblocked.

This article contains affiliate links

In the sidebar you’ll see links for NordVPN and PureVPN, but here I am going to look at Ivacy VPN, which offers tremendous value for money. It is also packed with great features too.

Windows 10 VPN setup

Here’s the Our Apps menu from the website and as you can see, Ivacy VPN is available for every computer and device, so no matter what you use, there is an app for that.

Download and install the Ivacy Windows VPN app, technically a VPN client, and install it. Run it from the Start menu or the desktop shortcut that is created.

Here is what the Windows app looks like and there is a toolbar down the left-hand side and options to choose the country in the center. You can simply leave it on the Automatic setting to secure the internet wherever you are, but some people may need to select a country. It can be useful when travelling abroad and you want to appear to be at home, or at least in your home country.

Select the City option and you can even choose which city you are in. Obviously the app cannot list every city in every country, but there is a useful selection of US cities for example, like Miami, Phoenix, Los Angeles, Chicago and others. Pick a city in the list and you can connect to that VPN server and so appear to be located there.

Starting a VPN before using the internet is a good habit to get into and it is pretty much essential if you use public Wi-Fi.

Get the Ivacy special offer. With all VPNs, the longer you sign up for, the cheaper it is and this offer is pretty amazing. In fact, the monthly cost is less than the price of a coffee, which you probably buy several times a week. And you can use the coffee shop’s Wi-Fi without worry of spying or restrictions.

Ivacy is not just for PCs

Maybe you only use your computer at home and think, ‘I don’t use public Wi-Fi.’ Maybe not on your computer, but your mobile phone certainly does use public Wi-Fi. Just walk around with a phone and it will connect to all sorts of public Wi-Fi hotspots around you.

An Ivacy account lets you connect five devices, so it can be added to your computer, phone and tablet. Securing your phone’s internet connection is just as important as your PC.

Secure all your devices with one account. It makes sense.