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Best 5 Apps for Sharing Your Computer's Internet Connection
Turn your computer into a hotspot
By Bradley Mitchell Bradley Mitchell Writer Massachusetts Institute of Technology University of Illinois An MIT graduate who brings years of technical experience to articles on SEO, computers, and wireless networking. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on June 18, 2021 Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email Home Networking The Wireless Connection Routers & Firewalls Network Hubs ISP Broadband Ethernet Installing & Upgrading Wi-Fi & Wireless Combining the functionality of a proxy server and a firewall, internet connection sharing software provides connection sharing for a home network similar to a network router. Compared to Microsoft Windows ICS, these products offer additional features, which may be more reliable and easier to use. They allow you to connect all your devices to the internet through one connection with your service provider. 01 of 05 Connectify Hotspot
What We Like Simplistic interface. Fast download. Ad blocker. What We Don't Like Starting and stopping takes time. Restart sometimes required to connect. May not reconnect automatically. Use Connectify, a virtual router app, when you want to share an internet connection with all your devices at home or in the office. No additional hardware, like a wireless router, is necessary. The free Connectify Hotspot shares a wireless internet connection. If you have wired, mobile, or other VPS virtual adapters, you'll need to upgrade to Connectify Hotspot PRO or MAX. Download Connectify 02 of 05 Ositis WinProxy
What We Like Easy setup. Firewall security capabilities. Browser-based maintenance. What We Don't Like Only for Windows. No native logfile. Spam filter not practical. WinProxy has been in existence for a long time. The latest version bundles internet connection sharing with antivirus, anti-spyware, URL filtering, and other security options. WinProxy includes a built-in firewall, parental site restrictions, and privileges that put the user in control of internet access. Download Ositis WinProxy 03 of 05 MyPublicWiFi
What We Like Easy to set up and use. Supports accountability with tracking. Blocks other network users from using P2P. What We Don't Like Requires restarting the device. Prolonged connection. Doesn't support Google Sync. MyPublicWiFi turns your computer into a Wi-Fi access point with URL tracking and firewall protection. Anyone nearby can use your connection to reach the internet. MyPublicWiFi can be set to prevent the use of some internet services, such as file-sharing programs. It records and tracks all URL pages that are accessed on your virtual hot spot. Download MyPublicWiFi 04 of 05 Virtual Router Manager
What We Like No background applications. User-friendly. Includes encryption. What We Don't Like Security level lacking. Not compatible with Mac OS. Very simplistic interface. If you run Windows 7 or 8 and are looking for a simple way to share your internet connection, Virtual Router Manager software may be the way to go. It is beginner-friendly and easy to use. Create a hotspot on your Windows 7 or 8 computer using this simple application. It offers no options, but that keeps it simple. Download Virtual Router Manager 05 of 05 AllegroSurf
What We Like Easy to define users or groups. Supports safe list or exclude list. Can build content filters. What We Don't Like No longer supported or updated. Doesn't recognize all spam. Can be buggy. AllegroSurf combines internet connection sharing with content filtering and network resource management into one package. AllegroSurf can be used on personal, school, and office networks for parental control, bandwidth control, and remote access support. Download AllegroSurf Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire Share an Internet Connection in Windows How to Turn Your Windows Laptop Into a Wi-Fi Hotspot How to Share Your Internet Connection on Windows Vista The 10 Best Parental Control Apps and Services of 2022 How to Share Internet Access How to Share Your Internet Connection on a Mac via Wi-Fi 9 Best Free Firewall Programs (Updated October 2022) One Home Network Sharing Two Internet Connections The 7 Best Emergency Alert Apps of 2022 The 5 Best Geocaching Apps The 7 Best Shared Calendar Apps of 2022 The 9 Best Free Music Streaming Apps for iOS and Android (2022) 4 Best Free Online Backup Plans (October 2022) 15 Best Free Remote Access Software Tools (Oct. 2022) The 22 Best Free iPad Apps of 2022 Speedtest.net Website Review Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies