VPN is a tool that has been gaining more and more popularity over the past few years. The reason for this was both strict censorship in some countries, which you want to bypass, and the rules of some entertainment sites, which, for whatever reason, refuse to give access to residents of different countries. But many do not delve into the technologies that VPNs use in their work, and in particular, this applies to its protocols. In this article, we will discuss the types of protocols and decide which ones are best to use.
What is VPN Protocol?
A VPN protocol is the basis of any VPN server. They describe the format of connection organization, data exchange within a private virtual network, and other aspects of software operation. By choosing a protocol, you choose the way of solving the problems you will face and the level of efficiency and safety of your VPN. Today there are several protocol technologies, so there is a debate about which one is the best to use.
Criteria to look for when choosing a VPN protocol
Each protocol has its own set of characteristics, and after studying them it will be easier for you to choose your ideal VPN. Among them:
- Supported platforms – some VPN protocols can be quite selective and will only provide VPN operation on one or OS, while others can support all available operating systems
- Supported networks- the list of networks in which VPN protocols work is also different. Some VPNs provide their services only in specific countries, which is due to some technological prohibitions introduced by the state itself
- Speed of work – some devices work faster on mobile devices and vice versa
- Security- encryption methods are different in different protocols, so you should choose only those that are least susceptible to common attacks
Review of existing protocols
Below we will tell you about all VPN protocols and their main characteristics:
- OpenVPN is a universal VPN protocol that can be used as a virtual “office” with full protection from outsiders or a reliable tunnel to connect to content inaccessible in your country. The main feature is open source. Has a high data transfer rate which is head and shoulders above all its competitors and uses TCP and UDP technologies, thanks to which it overcomes blocking even on the most stringent sites
- PPTP is a very old technology, now it is practically not used. Its principle of operation is that it establishes a standard dual-channel PPP connection between devices, and then transmits data through encapsulation using the Generic Routing Encapsulation method. The protocol is difficult to configure and does not protect the user very reliably, so it is not recommended to use it
- SSTP is an improved version of PPTP that was supposed to fix the bugs of the previous version, but it was also unsuccessful. The only plus over the old version is that it has improved security and SSL encryption
- IPsec – ipsec ports are a whole set of protocols, each of which is used to ensure the security of information. A nice plus is its easy setup and availability on any OS. It uses the Authentication Header, which digitally signs every piece of data transmitted over the VPN connection, and the Encapsulating Security Protocol, which protects the integrity of the transmitted information and the confidentiality of protocol users.