Knowing the difference between a public and private network is more important than, a priori, you can imagine. In this article we will see what each one involves and what considerations we must make when choosing one or the other to connect our equipment to the Internet.

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The Internet covers practically the entire world, or at least what we know as the developed world. The network of networks is the way in which we can communicate with anyone and with any machine without having to be physically on site.

Thanks to the Internet and networks, we can access any web page with our mobile phone, PC or laptop and consume content from it. We can even buy online. But do you really know how to appreciate the difference between a public and private network? Well, listen because this concept has implications for our security and that of our data.

What is a public network

A public network is basically the type of network that provides a connection or telecommunications service to our equipment in exchange for the payment of a service fee. When we connect to the Internet, through a router, we are clearly connecting to a public network. In this type of network, we have access to servers located in different parts of the world so that they provide us with a service that can be free or paid.

A public network does not mean that we have Wi-Fi access to a network without a password, not at all. Precisely this Wi-Fi network can be public or private as it happens when we connect via cable. Nor does a public network mean that our files will be publicly accessible when we are connected to it, it is just the opposite. Now we will see this when we put ourselves in the context of a computer.

But in addition to the Internet, there are other networks that are considered public. These are, for example , telephony networks, where through prior payment to an operator, it provides us with the ability to make calls and establish voice and data connections with other devices. Or they can also be the digital terrestrial television network or the AM, FM radio, etc. They are public networks to which we connect a device to receive television service, in some cases free, and in others by payment.

And what is a private network

Well, a private network is basically the opposite, as is logical. In a private network there is the figure of an administrator who is in charge of configuring it, maintaining it and managing its permissions and security.

There are private networks in organizations where there are a multitude of devices located within an enclosure and connected to switches through cables. In these private networks, a user who is external to this network will not be able to connect to it to access the Internet, access is only restricted to users who are inside it, in most cases of course.

But most of us will be connected to a private network, even if it doesn't seem like it. At the moment that our equipment is connected through a router, we are creating a small private network in our home, of which we ourselves are the administrators. Within this network we can do the same as companies, that is, share files between computers that are also inside, connect different computers, build credential stores, etc.

In most cases a private network is connected to a public network, as in the case of all of us and companies that want to access Internet services. All of them without exception.

The case of VPN networks

The case of VPN networks is somewhat more particular, since, despite being private networks, the connection is made through a public network. Let's try to explain this better.

When we are connected to a virtual private network (VPN), we are virtually creating an internal network under strong encryption so that only the computers and devices connected to it can communicate freely and share their files as if in a private network involved. These connections are called tunnels because they have no contact with the outside.

When we want to make a remote desktop to our home computer, from another country, for example, what we would have to do is connect these two computers to a VPN created by ourselves or a paid service, so that only we know what we are doing. doing. In this way the information that travels from one PC to another will not be exposed to the Internet for everyone to know.

When to connect our equipment to a public or private network

You may never have noticed, but when we proceed to connect a computer to a network, be it Wi-Fi or cable, Windows will ask us if that is a public or private network. The system must know where the PC is connected to know what type of security it is going to implement in connection with its respective firewall or file share permissions.

Private network:

When our connection is configured as a private network, it will mean that the operating system understands that we are within an organization (that of our own home) where there is a device that physically isolates us from the Internet network. In this way you will configure the file sharing between the computers that are within this network so that, if we want, they can see it or enter it or make modifications.

Public network:

If in the other case we connect to a public network, our system will understand that our equipment is directly connected to the Internet or to a network where there are other connected users who do not have to know anything about us (for example, a bar or a library). In this way the system will put all the necessary means so that other teams cannot see us, not even the name of our team. So they don't know that we are connected.

Obviously there are ways to find out, but in principle, we will be safe from others with a public network. By default Windows configures all network connections via Wi-Fi as a public network.

Differences between a public and private network

Having said all this, we will summarize the basic differences between the two types of networks that we have seen:

Public

To access them we will have to have a subscription or subscriber service, although on other occasions we can do it freely, such as radio or DTT. They are accessible by everyone, just keep in mind the previous point. They are large in size, provincial, national or global, such as television or the Internet. They are subject to access and privacy regulations, both in the country where they operate and in the rest of the world. When we connect to one of them, our team will restrict the use of shared files and team identification. (Can be modified). Without the proper protection activated, our computer will be vulnerable to all kinds of external attacks. (Although good, this happens in any case whatever the network is) The data transfer speed depends on the contracted services and the operator.

Private

Only equipment and devices that are within the network's operating range will be able to access it . In most corporate cases, credentials will be required that the administrator must register. Its internal configuration, equipment, and permissions are invisible from the outside, from a public network. VPNs can be created to extend their operating range. They are almost always connected to a public network through a secure gateway to receive and send data abroad. Inside, we will have access to shared data or other devices. The data transfer rate does not depend on an operator, only on the capacity of the routers.

How to know if I am connected to a public or private network

Now we are going to see in the Windows operating system, how we can know what type of network we are connected to. In addition, we will also see how to change this configuration and where the configuration permissions are located.

Know if my network is public or private

Well, it is very easy to know this information, as there are always several ways to get there, but we will see the fastest.

We will have to place ourselves on the task bar and identify in the right area the connection icon of our network, either Wi-Fi or cable. Click on it to display the information.

Click on the current connection, which will be the first icon that we see at the top.

We will access the control panel where the same icon appears on the right side of the window. In the left area we can find icons for other connections, for example, if we have a wired network and Wi-Fi, both will appear.

In any case, click on the top icon under the different " Ethernet " if it is a wired network and " Wi-Fi " if it is wireless.

Now the information that interests us will appear. We will see that the option of " Public " or " Private " is active. Of course we can change it simply by clicking on one of the options.

When we are connected via Wi-Fi in a public area that is not our router, we will have to have the public network option active, so that our equipment is invisible.

Change advanced sharing permissions on our network

With these permissions, we can configure in an extended way the access permissions to our files, visibility and other parameters according to our network connection. Then, we can be invisible in a private network, or we can be visible in a public network. Let's see where these permissions are located:

Let's go to the start menu and write " control panel ". Press Enter to access it.

Now we are going to click on the option “ Network and shared resources center ”.

Then click on " change advanced sharing settings ".

Now we will access a window with a list of options divided by categories. In it will be:

Private network profile: where we will have network detection enabled by default to make them visible and file sharing.

Public network profile: where we should have the network detection options and file sharing disabled.

All networks: we should have file sharing turned off, 128-bit encryption turned on for connections, and password sharing turned on as well.

Well this is all the most relevant about the public and private network and the differences between them, both in a practical way and from the point of view of our PC.

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We hope that this article has served to clear your doubts, and to clarify these two network concepts.