Many Internet users connect via WiFi hotspots and other networks whose security can’t be verified. Using a VPN protects them from hacking and data mining. Using VPNs to access the office network has become quite common. And setting up VPN access for personal use has become essential. Personal data security is as important as company data security these days. You need to make sure that both connections are working properly on your new OS.

If you are setting up a VPN for the first time or upgrading to Windows 8, may will to adjust some settings. With ExpressVPN, this Windows 8 VPN setup will be quick and easy. You can’t give up using your VPN just because the configuration needs to be changed. If it doesn’t work properly at first, read through the steps below or contact customer support. Having your VPN to protect your online activity for privacy and security is very important.

Setting up VPNs on Windows 8

Windows 8 is in some ways different from previous OS versions. The VPN setup is also slightly different. The architecture of Windows 8 is pretty much the same as Windows 7, but there are some conflicts with previous VPN software versions. Most providers do not yet support Windows 8 because of the adjustments that have to be made for the new touch based ‘Modern’ interface. But ExpressVPN will have the updated app for you. Just apply for a package and indicate your OS, or get in touch with customer support if you are an existing customer. There are no additional fees for switching over to the Windows 8 app version.

You can also get an OpenVPN client for Windows 8 if you prefer to do the configuration and maintenance yourself. ExpressVPN for Windows 8 is plug-and-play software that does not require you to do any tweaks to get it working. OpenVPN is the best choice for a VPN setup in general because it can give users the fastest speeds without compromising security. OpenVPN requires authentication and provides a high level of data and traffic encryption. PPTP is very fast but not secure while L2TP/IPSec is very secure but can also be very slow. OpenVPN is basically the best of both worlds.

For those who want to set up their own VPN but don’t want to go through a lot of manual steps, setting up PPTP on Windows 8 is not that complicated. PPTP is not as secure as other protocols, but is the easiest way of setting up VPN on Windows 8. Go to the Control Panel and click on “View Network Status and tasks”. Select “Set up a new connection or Network” and click on “Connect to a workplace”. Select “Use my Internet connection (VPN)” and put in the Internet address given to you by your VPN provider. Make sure that your credentials are entered correctly, then check the box that says ‘Remember my credentials’ to make setting up the VPN a one-time process. You can now connect immediately the next time you open the VPN. When you click ‘Create’ the process is complete and you can connect. Go to the Network Icon in the Task Bar and enter your username and password to connect.

If you need tighter security, which is highly recommended, L2TP/IPSec is a good choice for Windows 8 operating systems. L2TP/IPSec is standard for VPN setups on Windows, and has just a few additional steps as compared to PPTP setups. From the steps above, continue from the Network Icon in the Task Bar. Before entering your username and password, right click on the newly created connection. Open up Properties, and open the ‘Type of VPN’ dropdown on the Security tab. From there, select L2TP/IPSec. On ‘Advanced Settings, check the ‘Use pre-shared key for authentication’ box, and enter the authentication key provided by your VPN service. Click OK and double check the security settings. Go to the Networking tab and if prompted disable everything except TCP/IPv6 and File Printer and Sharing. Click OK and you are now ready to enter your username and password to connect to the VPN.

Windows 8 is still very new, so don’t get frustrated and give up if things don’t go exactly right the first time. Every new OS has its quirks, and there may also be some server configuration that needs to be done to get your device in sync. Some users might still have a few things to tweak depending on the device they are setting up the VPN on. If you have not yet been given tips on how to get the VPN working on your device, contact customer support and give them the details of the error and the device that you were trying to set up the VPN on. If it is a office VPN connection that you are having trouble with, contact IT for support or contact the VPN provider to help you work out the Windows 8 connection kinks. Your feedback is also very important to help your VPN provider get all the settings right for your device, so try to work patiently with them on it.

For more information on the different VPN protocols offered by the leading VPN providers, you can view the details of each from this page.