Top 8 Best Network Tweak Tools for Windows PCs
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TCP/IP Optimizer
An Internet speed optimizer with a wide array of features and options for you to use in order to speed up your connection in the shortest time.
Increasing the browsing speed and being able to achieve faster downloads and uploads are some of the goals that many users strive to attain. Especially when on a dial-up or DSL connection, a boost in these matters is actually a big deal.
One of the many specialized utilities that claim to be able to perform impressive improvements, insofar as Internet speed is concerned, is called TCP/IP Optimizer. With a simple interface and packing loads of customizable settings, this program makes optimizing network parameters a rather simple job.
The first thing you can adjust from the main window of the application is the connection speed. Then, in case you have several adapters connected to the system, you can choose the one which you wish to tweak.
With TCP/IP Optimizer you also get a series of settings you can select and apply. These are 'Windows Default', 'Current' and 'Optimal'. In case you prefer to adjust anything by hand, simply go for the 'Custom' mode.
While performing the modifications manually, you have at your disposal quite a few options and among them is the possibility to make the changes available for all the network adapters. You can activate MTU discovery and also set the desired value, or let the program provide it, while taking into consideration the usage of a PPPoE network protocol.
TCP/IP Optimizer comes with a set of advanced settings, some of which impact directly on Internet Explorer. Thus, you can set the number of maximum connections per server for IE, the host resolution priority as well as other LAN tweaks.
If the 'Enable Registry Editor' feature is activated from the 'Preferences' menu, yo will be able to modify manually the TCP/IP, Internet, DNS cache and other registry settings from the dedicated tab of the main window.
To conclude with, TCP/IP Optimizer manages to provide an impressive array of customizations that can help anyone make their connection a bit faster without too much efforts.
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NetLimiter
The ultimate Internet traffic control tool to quickly and easily create rules for each and every application connected to the Internet.
Unless you are the only one using the Internet, chances are that you experienced the frustrating dirge of sharing the bandwidth at least once. And even if you are enjoying all the bandwidth, sometimes it feels like things tend to get slow all of a sudden when you open an app. NetLimiter is a specialized tool that can help you deal with both of these irritating issues.
Enables traffic monitoring in real-time
The setup is a quick and uneventful operation that does not require any special attention on your part. The app comes with a clean interface that is split into two main sections, one that displays the running apps and services to the left and a right panel where you can learn more details, review history, overview the rules or simply take the necessary actions.
A nice and handy feature is the traffic monitoring that lets you check out the real-time uploading and downloading activity of anything connected to the Internet. In case you notice a particular connection draining all your bandwidth, you can either set a threshold limit or simply kill it.
Packs a firewall so you can block unwanted apps and services
In addition to the real-time traffic, the program provides statistics from data collected over time, which may come in handy for detecting malware, spyware and other unwanted services feeding on your connection. This is where the Blocker feature of the tool may come in handy.
As the name suggests, Blocker acts like a firewall and enables you to manage the apps and features that can connect to the Internet. In fact, the application comes with a complex filters and rules system where you can customize the behavior of any service or program. Moreover, thanks to the Quota feature, you can set a limit for apps and they get automatically blocked once they reach the threshold.
An advanced tool that grants you control over Internet traffic
In the eventuality that you want to manage which programs connect to the Internet, block or control traffic in your household or office or simply determine how much bandwidth the running processes use, then perhaps you can consider giving NetLimiter a try.
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Download Hubs
NetLimiter is part of these download collections: Bandwidth Managers, Tweak Network, Monitor Network Traffic
Network Booster
Boost your internet speed with this application, designed to optimize your DNS address, adapting it to the content you usually access.
Network speeds can be fickle, and they depend on a lot of variables. The sites you interact with, your data plan and router, whether you're on Wi-Fi or wired, or if there's a heavy load on the infrastructure, among many other things.
Your settings are also of relevance, and while you have the possibility to change them, there is simply a lot that can go wrong. Network Booster aims to do that for you by scanning the sites you normally visit, suggesting a DNS address to optimize the speeds at which you access them.
Quick Scan and Full Scan
Upon opening up this app, you will notice that the Full Scan option is unavailable in the Free version, so you'll only be able to use the less thorough one. Upon choosing to quick scan, the software will look up the sites you visit and suggest a more fitting DNS address if there is one, giving you instructions on how to navigate the process.
You'll have to go to your network settings and change the DNS value under your IPv4 protocol settings, and that's all. Onto the testing itself, our network speeds following its optimizations did not change at all.
More on the optimizations
Before switching to the suggested optimizations, we conducted a test we could use as a barometer for our network speeds. Upon applying the new settings, we did not notice any difference at all. We tested it on two machines with different browsing habits, and the same DNS suggestion was suggested in both cases — changing to Cloudflare's 1.1.1.1 address.
Our ping took a hit on the first test, where it was thrice as big as it was before. It stabilized right after, though, and successive tests yielded results in the same ballpark as the automatic DNS ones. The same was true for the speeds themselves, very much corresponding in the before and after. A lot of these results can thus be attributed to the margin of error, which invalidates the purported "boost" the app promises.
In conclusion, we did not see any of the improvements that Network Booster had promised. While conducting tests, the results were similar, and the same can be said for the browsing experience. Even more, given how the Full Scan option is locked behind a paywall, the effects of the Quick Scan feature did not give us much confidence in the paid option.
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TCP Optimizer
A network connection tweaking tool that enables experts to tamper with their broadband connection and optimize the connection speed.
Optimizing your Internet connection takes time and requires a certain set of skills in order to be properly done. While it's not a must, you are sure to get a boost in performance and security, as your connection, by default, does not operate at its best. This happens due to operating system restrictions. This is the time for specialized software to step in and bring the set of needed tools for this particular operation.
TCP Optimizer sits at the top of its software category, providing a comprehensive yet safe environment for network interface cards tweaking. It covers the basics as well as more in-depth registry operations. It does not overlook the quirks of the Microsoft TCP/IP implementation and RFC (Remote Function Call) related anomalies. It also checks for screw-ups within the registry and even adds compelling parameters to the existing registry keys.
The interface of the application may look crowded for beginners as there is no lack of drop-down menus for the impressive number of customizable settings. TCP Optimizer retains that professional touch though by granting advanced users the chance to get under the hood and tinker its most hidden aspects. The Connection Speed slider at the top of the main interface window allows you to set the maximum available bandwidth for your connection.
You can also pick from Windows Default, Current, Optimal or Custom options for the general setting of the program depending on your chosen Connection Speed. In case you decide to go Custom, a very generous number of options will become available for selection. You are able to work with the TCP Window Auto-Tuning, TCP Chimney Offload or ECN Capability features. Just make sure you are accurately documented as any faulty setting may result in deficient speed and weak security.
Once you open up the Advanced Settings tab, a new wave of options unveils itself. They're split in categories for Internet Explorer Optimization, Host Resolution Priority, Network Memory Allocation, Type / Quality of Service, Gaming Tweaks, DNS Error Caching or Dynamic Port Allocation. The BDP (Bandwidth Delay Product) tab section offers a calculator for quick approximation of RWIN (TCP Window) values.
You are also given the tools for MTU / Latency tests such as Largest MTU or Trace. If all of these have only open your appetite for connection tweaking, the last tab of the application comes to sum them all up. This is the registry zone and you are in full control of the TCP/IP, Internet Settings, DNS Cache, LanManServer and LanManWorkstation keys.
TCP Optimizer can be easily regarded as the top tool for this specific job of Internet connection tweaking. Its feature list is massive and the fact that it actually does what it's supposed to boosts it in the front of the pack. Powerful yet easy-to-use software is always welcomed and TCP Optimizer is one serious addition to this thin crowd.
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Download Hubs
TCP Optimizer is part of these download collections: Tweak Network
Connection Keeper
Created for dial-up users, this application can prevent the Internet connection from being dropped due to inactivity by simulating data traffic.
Connection Keeper is a simple utility that can avoid Internet disconnection due to inactivity by simulating browsing activities. Especially designed for dial-up users, this application takes the necessary actions to keep your connection active.
The tabbed-based interface offers you quick access to options and allows you to easily configure the program settings. Here, you can specify the number of hours you want the connection to be kept alive, choose a non-default connection to use and set the frequency (in minutes) when the program simulates Internet usage.
The software can query non-existent URLs (requires less bandwidth) or real addresses that the user defines in the 'Sites List' tab. Although the first option is usually enough to prevent your connection from appearing idle, it might not work with all the Internet Service Providers.
You can also set the query timeout (the amount of time that the program waits for a query to be completed) and the number of seconds before the first query.
The program can read the entire visited page as if you actually open it in a web browser or simply access the URL. Unlike the latter option, the first one takes up bandwidth and it should be considered only if the connection keeps dropping.
Should any error appear when a query is issued, Connection Keeper can be set to notify you, log the errors to a file or send them to you via e-mail.
In addition, Connection Keeper can be set to automatically reconnect to the Internet in case of disconnection and even close some popup that prompt users for feedback on remaining online. When one of the selected popup windows appears, the program can simulate mouse clicks on a button or send it user-defined keystrokes.
Connection Keeper is a simple tool that does not interrupt your work while trying to reconnect to the Internet. Its features can come in handy for those who browse the Web using an unstable connection.
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Change MAC Address
A clean and intuitive software application that lets you change the MAC address of a network adapter rapidly and with minimal effort.
Change MAC Address is a super manageable application, suitable for anyone who wants to change their computer's network interface controller unique ID, the MAC address.
General traits, context, and what is a MAC address
The program is user-friendly and super lightweight. You can go through the installation process in seconds, and the main screen has short, explicit commands. For optimal functioning and making sure you're not getting any errors, start the installation by right-clicking the executable and using your administrator privileges for the installation.
Using this app, you have a nice GUI that allows you to list and change the MAC address of your PC (a MAC address is a unique identifier or ID assigned to a network interface controller, a component that connects something to the Internet).
Before you start using the program, you should understand a couple of things about your network, mainly that you can have multiple MAC addresses (especially on a laptop) — one for the Ethernet (the wired port) and one for the Wi-Fi (the wireless port), and that you can change your machine's MAC address from your PC, by yourself also (with simple online instructions).
For example, power users can access, using the command-line, different parts of the system, to list all the MAC addresses of the correlated network interfaces, to adjust these addresses, and to check their modifications.
The benefits of this application and when you could opt for using it
As previously said, you could do the MAC modification by yourself. However, if you are not a tech-savvy individual, this program is perfect for you. Why? Because it is simple to use, does not require sophisticated configuration, and has a resourceful menu, with a wide variety of features.
Firstly, you can list the MAC address of your network adapter, and, secondly, you can generate or change the MAC address(es). The tool allows you to correlate certain MAC patterns with their correspondent manufactures, quickly change the ID of your network interface controller, and automatically activate the new MAC address.
Regarding of your new MAC address, this app lets you opt for random selection or manual input (for both the manufacturer's identification sequence and the device's ID).
Conclusion
All things considered, this tool is a fast solution for anyone who wants to gain more control over their Internet connectivity, to increase their levels of security, or to bypass certain access control requirements (e.g. to access servers that only allow certain devices to connect).
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Network Profile Name Changer
Seamlessly change the network profile name displayed by your computer without having to edit registries using this simple application.
Even if you do not configure anything and simply connect to the Internet for the first time with your laptop or desktop, Windows, and particularly Windows 10, automatically creates a network profile for you. While this issue does not bother most users, sometimes you want to be easier to find or perhaps need a clear way to access remote computers.
Network Profile Name Changer is a tool designed to help you edit the profile name of the network without you having to alter any registry keys.
Simply add the name you want and that's it
The program is as simple as it gets and comes with a small interface where you can simply add the new desired name for your profile. Once you hit the Apply button, you should be able to view the modifications in the Network and Sharing Center, which, on a side note, you can access via the Tools menu.
While with the previous versions of Windows, you could have made such a simple modification without too much trouble, the same cannot be said about Windows 10. For instance, with Windows 7 all you have to do is access Network and Sharing Center to edit it. For the latter version, you can do that by changing the registry for it or using the Local Security Policy.
A straightforward tool for editing your network profile name
If you happen to have Windows 10 Home, then changing the profile name would imply several extra steps and editing some registry keys. For Windows Professional and Enterprise, you can also obtain the same result by editing registry, but the truth is that it is easier to do so via the Local Security Policy editor method.
Then again, if you just do not want to complicate your life when modifying something as simple as a name profile network, then Network Profile Name Changer could certainly come in handy.
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NetProf
Manage network profiles on your computer using this simple and lightweight application, which allows you to rename or delete entries.
Versions of Windows prior to 7 had a dedicated interface for managing network profiles, but this utility was removed with the release of Windows 8. When the PC connects to an Internet access point, a new network profile is created automatically. These details are stored in the registry, which gets filled with new profiles for each new connection.
Renaming or deleting a network profile in Windows 10 requires you to tamper with the system’s registry. You should do so only if you are an experienced user, as the registry editor is a powerful tool and misusing it might render the PC unusable. Another method is to work with the system commands in the Windows console, but this is a bit laborious. Alternatively, you could call to a simple application called NetProf, which is short for Network Profiles Manager.
Check out a list of network profiles
As its name suggests, NetProf provides a simple user interface to help you rename or delete available network profiles in Windows 8 and 10. The application comes packed in a ZIP archive and requires no installation, ensuring full compatibility with both 32-bit and 64-bit architectures. However, keep in mind that it makes changes to the computer’s registry, meaning administrative rights are needed.
NetProf displays a list of all the available network profiles within its small window. To see the unique ID of each profile, you simply have to move the horizontal slider to the right.
Rename and delete network profiles
With NetProf, you can either rename or delete any of the network profiles. When changing the name of a profile, keep in mind that the new name has some restrictions to it: it must be up to 32 characters long, including spaces. The changes should be instantly visible in the Network and Sharing Center.
Please be advised that you should not delete the active network profile. However, if you do so, disable and re-enable the physical network card to allow Windows to create a new profile.
A simple network profile manager
NetProf is one of those simple yet handy tools that advanced users might cherish. It allows you to manage network profiles easily and get rid of profiles that are no longer in use.
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