Honestly, trying to use the built-in Windows network tool is a massive headache for regular users. You have to manually enter server IPs, change security protocols, and if a server goes down, you have to reconfigure everything all over again. A dedicated app handles all of that automatically in the background. I switched to a standalone desktop client last year and it saves so much time. If you want a smooth experience without any bugs, I suggest checking out the windows version of this vpn because it is very stable. It has an automatic kill switch feature which is super important for your privacy. If your connection drops for a single second, it instantly blocks the internet so your real home IP address does not leak to the web. Also, dedicated apps usually have built-in ad blockers and malware protection, which you don't get with the default Windows settings. It is much easier for daily use because you just click one button and forget about it. Plus, if you ever need to change server locations to bypass geo-blocks, you can do it with a single click instead of reconfiguring your entire network profile. It is just way more practical for regular people who don't want to learn complex networking protocols.
I recently upgraded my PC to Windows 11 and I want to secure my web traffic. I tried using the built-in Windows VPN settings, but it requires a lot of manual configuration data like server addresses and pre-shared keys. I am completely lost here. Is it better to use the built-in system tools or should I just download a dedicated application from a provider? What are the main pros and cons of using a separate app for a desktop computer?