New Update Surfshark VPN now has Dedicated IP Address

[simmerskool]

so I put surfshark on windows_VM but first I had to install .NET 7 and I don't exactly understand why (how) that is needed, ie, my windows update says I am current and this month MS update installed 2024-11 cumm update .NET Framework 3.5, 4.8, 4.8.1. Perhaps I am (seem to be) totally clueless about surfshark .NET 7 when MS says I'm current with 4.8.1. But I did install the 4 .NET 7 related files on VM and then surfshark installed on win_VM, and easily setup the dedicated ip vpn (for limited use). I'm somewhat reluctant to install on Host hardware when I'm too clueless about .NET 7... Can anyone explain? Is .NET different than .NET Framework.
PS I did read (skim) the ms links with those 4 files, but not in context enough for me
PS2 surfshark did not blow me away with its speed. I've seen better+ with other vpn's
PS3 apparently proton has a dedicated ip but you have to request price / sales info, no reply yet.

How to install or update .NET on a Windows device

This article will show you how to install or update the .NET on your Windows operating system. For Surfshark app to work and connect to the server successfully, it needs to run with .NET on the sid...

support.surfshark.com

 

[roger_m]

so I put surfshark on windows_VM but first I had to install .NET 7 and I don't exactly understand why (how) that is needed, ie, my windows update says I am current and this month MS update installed 2024-11 cumm update .NET Framework 3.5, 4.8, 4.8.1.[/URL]

You had older versions of .NET installed, but not the newer v7.

 

[simmerskool]

You had older versions of .NET installed, but not the newer v7.

thanks... but then my question is: running win10 (hardware restriction(s) for win11) why does MS update say I'm current with .NET 4.8.1 -- even under optional, .NET 7 is not listed, and when I hunted .NET 7 down, I see there are newer versions than 7 too. How would user know there is an update until some 3d-party app says you need a newer version. I feel "blindsided"

 

[roger_m]

thanks... but then my question is: running win10 (hardware restriction(s) for win11) why does MS update say I'm current with .NET 4.8.1 -- even under optional, .NET 7 is not listed, and when I hunted .NET 7 down, I see there are newer versions than 7 too. How would user know there is an update until some 3d-party app says you need a newer version. I feel "blindsided"

.NET 7 is a different app to .NET 4.8.1. It's not a newer version of 4.8.1. Some apps require older versions of .NET and some require newer versions.

 

[Victor M]

Something you are overlooking. Once you have a static ip, your attacker can Always find you. You'll never know when you will attract an attacker, something you did on social media, some opinion stated, some smart ass remark .... I wouldn't take that risk just to gain some supposed speed advantage of a few milliseconds and avoid a few capcha's . You might say how the hell is he going to find my ip? Well, he can hack this forum, for example, and he'll find you in the logs very quickly. How troublesome is that - he hack things as a hobby. A few SQL-injection attempts is probably all it takes. To reiterate, having a static ip is not a risk you want to take lightly. And if you are still interested, don't be tempted to run servers ( web server, game server, ftpd etc ) which increases your attack surface significantly. Exploits for those things are readily available.

 

[simmerskool]

Something you are overlooking. Once you have a static ip, your attacker can Always find you. You'll never know when you will attract an attacker, something you did on social media, some opinion stated, some smart ass remark .... I wouldn't take that risk just to gain some supposed speed advantage of a few milliseconds and avoid a few capcha's . You might say how the hell is he going to find my ip? Well, he can hack this forum, for example, and he'll find you in the logs very quickly. How troublesome is that - he hack things as a hobby. A few SQL-injection attempts is probably all it takes. To reiterate, having a static ip is not a risk you want to take lightly. And if you are still interested, don't be tempted to run servers ( web server, game server, ftpd etc ) which increases your attack surface significantly. Exploits for those things are readily available.

I haven't overlooked the static ip issue -- first thing I thought of before getting dedicated ip vpn. I use it only for limited special purposes. Meanwhile, my real ip has been static for years -- not sure why? Long time ago, it dynamically changed all the time.

 

[simmerskool]

.NET 7 is a different app to .NET 4.8.1. It's not a newer version of 4.8.1. Some apps require older versions of .NET and some require newer versions.

Thanks @roger_m. So I installed the four .NET 7.0.20 files on the pc where I think SS dedicated ip would come in handy for some limited purpose(s), and the surfshark app would NOT install, I was text chatting with their support for about 90 min. I even downloaded a MS troubleshooting app which "could not ID the problem." I do have another vpn installed, but it was not running and neither was its service, and not about to uninstall apps on whim that work for me. I do have SS w/dedicated ip installed and running on a VM if and when I want to use it.

 

[roger_m]

Thanks @roger_m. So I installed the four .NET 7.0.20 files on the pc where I think SS dedicated ip would come in handy for some limited purpose(s), and the surfshark app would NOT install,

Are you getting an error when you try to install it?

 

[simmerskool]

Are you getting an error when you try to install it?

no, just the standard popup that says "the surfshark setup wizard ended prematurely" with a link to their page about installing .NET 7.0.20. Support "escalated" to upper levels after we ran MS tool to troubleshoot problems installing apps, but the tool said it did not find any problems. Then I was thinking I have another vpn installed (but not running) is that some sort of block, but I do have surfshark installed on a "clone" VM with the same other vpn installed. & sfc scannow finds the system is good. Have not seen a reply from SS support yet.

 

[simmerskool]

BTW so I tried installing surfshark on a VM (basically a clone of hardware windows) and went thru the procedure with Net 7 and it installed aok, and VM had the same other-vpn already installed, so it not obviously another installed vpn issue. the bugaboo on the hardware pc is elusive.

 

[simmerskool]

so update just because this seems like atypical situaiton: yesterday I discovered windows "clean boot" (not safe boot) -- "repaired" the 4 NET 7 files although I think they installed ok the first time, rebooted then ran surfshark setup dowloaded from surfshark website, and got the same result "setup ended prematurely" during the extraction phase. then saw that MS store has a surfshark installer with a different hash and smaller file, so I think it suppose to start and then download files from surfshark -- that installer did not work either. curiouser & curiouser I do have surfshark installed on 2 VM with win10 Guest OS.