Public or private - what am I supposed to put for my network and when a new game asks?

[OzzyOscy]

I never really understood it that much, not helped by the names, and particularly with the latter.

1) My network

Private refers to the private network, which actually means anything on that network can share files. Public actually means for use on public networks (e.g. a library) and your PC is hidden (not public).

Since I don't have another PC and don't need to share files anyway, I've set my network to public, so my PC is hidden in the presumably unlikely event someone Matrix-y hacked my network. Is that ok?

2) Game requests

Often when starting a game with multiplayer, a window will come up asking to allow it through public, private, both or neither. It never seemed to make a difference what I picked. Does it even matter?

What am I even supposed to choose when public means private and private means public for my network but probably not here?

 

[OzzyOscy]

Yeah i'm stumped too.

 

[darael]

On Private networks, Windows enables network discovery features. Other devices can see your Windows computer on the network, allowing for easy file sharing and other networked features. Windows will also use the Homegroup feature to share files and media between your PCs.

On Public networks–like those in coffee shops–you don’t want your computer to be seen by others, though, or share your files with them. So Windows turns off these discovery features. it won’t appear to other devices on the network and won’t try to discover them. Even if you’ve set up a Homegroup on your PC, it won’t be enabled on a public network.

It’s simple, really. Windows assumes that your private networks–like your home or work networks–are trusted networks full of other devices you may want to connect to. Windows assumes that public networks are full of other people’s devices you don’t want to connect to, so it uses different settings.

What’s the Difference Between Private and Public Networks in Windows? - How-To Geek

As you're at home, I'd set it to Private, unless you don't happen to trust your own network.

 

[OzzyOscy]

What’s the Difference Between Private and Public Networks in Windows? - How-To Geek

As you're at home, I'd set it to Private, unless you don't happen to trust your own network.

Is there a reason to or not to? Could someone find their way into it and then, as they can now share files, do naughty things?

Since I'll never use this online sharing feature, would that make 'public' the safer choice, on the minute chance someone were to do the above?

 

[skyripper]

Wrong way round. If you enable Public, that is you saying it's ok to allow things on a public network to access this program on my PC. If you enable Private, only things on your Private network can access it.

Your home network should be considered Private.

 

[OzzyOscy]

Wrong way round. If you enable Public, that is you saying it's ok to allow things on a public network to access this program on my PC. If you enable Private, only things on your Private network can access it.

Your home network should be considered Private.

So whenever a game asks, does it even matter?

 

[lord filbuster]

If you are just using a PC at home all the time, probably not.