One of the features not many Internet users know about is the obfuscated VPN specialty servers. Such special servers take VPNs out of the ordinary and place this technology on top of any list of technologies and solutions meant at helping users circumvent restrictions, bypass VPN blocking, firewalls, and avoid internet censorship.

Stay with me if you’re thirsty for tech and curious about finding out everything you need to know about what is an obfuscated VPN server and why you need to use an obfuscated VPN server for secured, fast, private and easy web surfing.

The Transylvanian explanation of what is an obfuscated VPN server

We all love Halloween and the way it makes us creative when it comes to the costumes that we wear. One of the biggest Halloween fans you will ever meet is TomBat. Why? Because he always dreamed about being a superhero and this event always gave him the perfect occasion to transform into one. The only problems with the Halloween parties organized in Castlevania were the late hour and the threats lurking at the corners. These are the main reasons why TomBat’s parents never agreed for their little BATby to leave the cave.

Helped by his creative spirit, TomBat was always able to identify a way to leave the cave and bypass his parents’ restrictions.

One of the best examples of how he tricked his parents into thinking that he is leaving the cave to spend the night with a friend was when he hid his superhero costume under a huge raincoat and left to his friend, not to spend the night over but to meet him and go to the party.

This is what happens when you connect to an obfuscated server. If you use a VPN, you are already a superhero. Yet, some firewalls can intercept your traffic, and be aware that you are using a VPN. In such a case, your access gets blocked, and you are not able to unblock the resources that you want. When you use an obfuscated server, you camouflage your superhero costume under a raincoat, so firewalls and ISP won’t be aware that you are using a privacy tool.

What is VPN obfuscation?

Obfuscation is a common term used in programming and software engineering. This technique is used mainly to hide certain values, exact code lines, and their logic. Therefore, obfuscation helps obscure and distort certain messages, to ensure data security, in the first place, and online freedom.

Translating this into the VPN language, we can almost guess what this technique is used for. Since this blog is not a place for guessing, let’s discuss this topic properly, shall we?

What is an obfuscated VPN server and how do they work?

Obfuscated VPN servers are like the unicorn of VPN servers. An obfuscated VPN server will make the traffic generated through VPN appear like regular web traffic (HTTPS). 

The “disguise” process is not as simple as you might think, as when you use a VPN connection, the OpenVPN encrypted data contains two parts that are visible as data generated via VPN traffic:

1. The first part is the header that includes the routing information and the packet identification.
2. The second part is the Payload representing the data that the VPN server forwarded to the web address you want to access.

So, now the magic kicks in. 

To remove all the information indicating OpenVPN traffic/VPN encryption from the header, an obfuscated VPN server disguises the data and makes it look like regular HTTPS traffic. The most convenient way is the one when the OpenVPN packet is double encrypted using the SSL or TLS protocol. This process is like encrypting traffic that is already encrypted, to make it undetectable by firewalls and DPI (deep packet inspection).

Why should I connect to an obfuscated VPN server?

If you can access popular websites like YouTube, Facebook, or streaming services like Netflix or BBC iPlayer, you must know that you’re a lucky internet user. There are people located in certain countries worldwide where accessing popular online content is limited and, even worse, it’s completely banned, so bypassing restrictions is mandatory.

VPN can help users facing censorship bypass restrictions and gain access to the websites of their choice. The only problem is that some of these websites use specialized algorithms that can track, detect, and block VPN traffic. In this case, a VPN becomes useless unless it uses special power-ups to trick websites into seeing the traffic as normal HTTPS traffic.

Alongside advanced options like Shadowsocks, there are complimentary VPN features to help users surf freely. Obfuscated VPN servers can easily be included in this category. Due to their advanced encryption method, users can easily bypass internet restrictions, government censorship, the Great Firewall of China, and network firewalls. 

Therefore, the main reason why you would want to focus on using obfuscated VPN servers is to regain the much-deserved online freedom and get access to any website with just a click. 

How can firewalls or the ISP tell that you use VPN?

Internet service providers and the detection algorithms used by firewalls can identify that you’re using a VPN only by looking at the traffic. Since VPN uses advanced techniques to encrypt your traffic, your data is not visible in plain text, so your traffic pattern looks very different than the regular HTTPS one. 

Therefore, the prying eyes spying on your traffic can detect that you use a VPN, but your identity and data are a complete mystery.

Obfuscated VPN server vs regular VPN server

The VPN server is one of the three main components of a VPN, alongside the VPN protocol and the VPN encryption. The VPN server works like a bridge between your device and the internet, being a combo of hardware and software technologies.

When you enable a VPN connection, you automatically connect to the VPN server, which changes your IP address and encrypts your traffic. Due to these two capabilities of a VPN server, you can surf privately and anonymously, gaining access to blocked content.

Remember that I said that VPN usage could be detected and blocked? In this case, the VPN server needs the obfuscation power-up.

Therefore, an obfuscated VPN server is an improved version of a regular VPN server, which uses obfuscation in order to encrypt the data packets using additional SSL/SSH encryption. So, it applies a second layer of encryption to hide the data and prevent trackers from identifying that you are using a VPN.

Obfuscated VPN server vs double VPN server

While describing how obfuscated VPN servers work, I mentioned that the main step to trick websites into seeing your traffic like HTTPS one, this type of server uses a second layer of encryption. As I don’t want you to confuse obfuscated servers with double VPN ones, I thought that it might be a good idea to tell you a few things about double VPN as well. 

Double VPN is a type of VPN developed to allow VPN users to enhance their level of encryption while going online. The technology behind this advanced security solution allows users to browse anonymously and securely by connecting to a chain of VPN servers.

In super easy terms, we can say that when you connect to a double VPN server, it’s like adding a VPN on top of another VPN or is like creating a VPN tunnel inside another VPN tunnel. 

Besides the military-grade encryption that a regular VPN server provides, a double VPN server will enhance your internet anonymity and cybersecurity by cascading your VPN server. When using this kind of solution, you can chain more than two VPN servers in one connection. The result is a highly secure connection. Even so, cascading more than two VPN servers would definitely affect your internet speed and VPN performance. 

So, even if both solutions use two (or more, in case of a multiple VPN cascading) layers of encryption, the mechanism behind the process is different therefore, the result is different. Obfuscated VPN uses the second layer of encryption to secure your connection, hide the metadata, and disguise your VPN traffic, while double VPN uses double encryption to enhance your security but, your VPN traffic remains detectable in front of firewalls and advanced tracking algorithms. 

Other options to enjoy the perks of an obfuscated VPN 

Stealth VPN not only guarantees your online freedom but also assures your security based on its encryption level.

Online privacy and freedom are not only necessities but are also your RIGHTS. Would you allow your neighbor to read your emails? No? Then why would you let your ISP? 

The word “Stealth” is a popular term used to describe the Airforce planes. Stealth planes’ design and features allow them to overfly any area because radars can’t detect them.

Stealth VPN is a protocol that uses obfuscation to allow a user to bypass any restriction he might face while browsing the internet.

The best obfuscated VPN

Obfuscation is all about disguising VPN traffic and helping internet users browse freely, securely, anonymously, and avoid throttling. To accomplish all of these requires using a performant service. When it comes to providing obfuscated VPN servers, there are a handful of VPN providers known for their top-notch services, lite apps (for the most popular OSes, like Windows, Android, iOS, Mac, and even Linux), and complex and complete lists of features including the most-wanted KillSwitch, Smart DNS, proxy, split tunneling, or specialty servers (gaming, double VPN, or P2P servers). 

My main three picks of best VPNs that provide obfuscated VPN servers are:

ExpressVPN

I must agree with what the provider states on the website, ExpressVPN is the VPN that just works. With a list of fine VPN apps, a huge global network, advanced VPN features, and even their own VPN protocol (Lightway), ExpressVPN provides obfuscated VPN servers as well. 

So, if you look for the proper way to surf securely and trick websites into thinking that your internet traffic is an eligible one, ExpressVPN is clearly one of the best solutions you could try!

NordVPN

The second on the list is another popular VPN service. NordVPN is on every VPN user’s lips due to its impressive capabilities, lite apps, and care to bring innovation through every implemented solution. 

As expected, NordVPN provides obfuscated VPN servers in plenty of VPN locations around the globe that are waiting to be tested.

Surfshark

Surfshark humanizes digital security to make it accessible to all, being an excellent VPN service, providing a lot of strong security features that the average VPNs won’t offer, it’s fast and super user-friendly, eating other VPNs alive. And, since it’s on this list, besides the fact that it offers lots of options you can choose between, it also provides obfuscated VPN servers. So, feel free to give it a try and test its performance by yourself!

Final thoughts.

Before closing the book on the obfuscated VPN servers topic, I feel the need to do a bit of recap.

An obfuscated VPN server is one of the best options to consider if you look to avoid internet censorship and firewalls while keeping your data secured and a low profile. This advanced VPN solution was developed to grant Internet users all around the world access to blocked websites and media content.

The great news is that this solution is tested by VPN providers, and it has been proved to work even for users located in countries like Iran, China, Russia, Turkey, or Egypt.

Therefore, if you strive for online freedom at your fingertips, obfuscated VPN servers are the right solution for you. And, if you strive to learn as many things as possible about VPNs, the right thing to do is to subscribe to my newsletter by using the form below. It takes less than 10 seconds, and it makes the Transylvanian baby bats happy!

IKEv2 is one of the most popular VPN protocols due to its stability, speed, and security. Expanding upon the strengths of its predecessor (IKEv1), IKEv2 is nowadays a strong and reliable choice when it comes to encrypting data.

As you probably know already, it is fundamentally important to secure your data when connected to the Internet, and it is equally important to use the right tools. When it comes to VPN, the communication protocol is the foundation stone of online security. If the VPN protocol implements strong encryption algorithms and high-level security policies, you may use it with confidence. IKEv2 is, from the public knowledge available at this time, a VPN protocol that you may trust.

This article explains what IKEv2 is, how this VPN protocol works, how to set IKEv2 up on your devices, and how it compares with other VPN protocols. We will also look at some of the advantages and disadvantages of the IKEv2 protocol.

What is IKEv2? The Transylvanian story.

Bats know, probably better than humans, that they need to exercise regularly to be in shape. Unfortunately, the bats from Castlevania know this all too well as they have to face (more precisely, have to run fast from) the Megabats, their unfriendly neighbors.

One early morning TomBat and AnonymousBat, the two bat friends, took their bikes and headed towards the woods surrounding Vlad’s castle. As you can imagine, cycling is not a popular sport among bats, but TomBat and AnonymousBat have joined Vlad in his cycling rounds, and they started to like pedaling.

After an hour of intensive and joyful pedaling in the middle of the forest, TomBat had to stop. Something was wrong. Indeed, it was: his bike had a flat tire. TomBat had a moment of panic when he remembered that he had forgotten his repairing kit at home. The situation didn’t look joyful anymore. The perspective of getting back on foot (so to speak) was not pleasant.

Fortunately, TomBat was not alone and AnonymousBat had his own repairing kit. In ten minutes they were back on the road.

Not long after, it was TomBat’s turn to return the favor to AnonymousBat. When they felt a little bit exhausted, TomBat pulled out a chocolate bar from his backpack. It was the best chocolate you may find in Castlevania, made by TomBat girlfriend, PonyBat. With renewed forces, they were able to get back safely and happy.

The moral of the story: don’t go into the woods alone; a friend may help when you need it, and, together, you are both safer.

IKEv2 and IPSec are two good friends that help each other and work together to make VPN communication great. So let’s find out more about the IKEv2/IPSec VPN protocol.

What is IKEv2, and how does IKEv2 work?

IKEv2 (Internet Key Exchange version 2), the successor of IKEv1, is a VPN protocol developed by Microsoft and Cisco that uses the authentication suite IPSec to secure communication between a VPN client and a VPN server. Sometimes it is called IKEv2/IPSec.

IKEv2/IPSec generates encryption keys, providing high-level data security. For those interested in more technical details, IKEv2/IPSec uses the AES-256-GCM cipher for encryption. Additionally, it has several important advantages over other VPN protocols (explained in detail below).

The IKEv2/IPSec protocol uses the Diffie-Hellman key exchange algorithm to secure the communication tunnel. IKEv2 establishes a security association (SA) to check that the VPN client (your device) and the VPN server use the same encryption keys and algorithms. Once the security association is validated, IPSec creates the tunnel and initiates the secure communication.

Other important IKEv2 technical details:

• The IKEv2 uses UDP packets and port 500.
• It supports Perfect Forward Secrecy (PFS).
• IKE builds upon the Oakley Key Determination Protocol and ISAKMP for defining data exchange methods.
• IKE uses X.509 certificates for the authentication process.
• Open-source implementation exists, such as strongSwan, OpenIKEv2, and Openswan.

Why IKEv2 & IPSec?

IKEv2 and IPSec are different technologies that work great when combined.

IPSec (Internet Protocol Security) is a network protocol suite that provides secure tunneling between devices over an Internet Protocol network. It is used for encrypting data in virtual private networks (VPNs).

IPSec can use various mechanisms for authentication and key exchange to create security associations. One of these mechanisms is the Internet Key Exchange (IKE and IKEv2).

As IPSec is secure and reliable. IKEv2 is fast, stable, and provides rapid re-connection in case of dropouts. IKEv2/IPSec expose the best of both into a great VPN protocol.

IKEv1 vs. IKEv2 – The main differences

IKEv2 is the upgraded version of IKEv1 and this translates into faster, safer, and more efficient communication:

• IKEv2 consumes less bandwidth than IKEv1.
• IKEv2 has built-in NAT traversal (IKEv1 doesn’t).
• IKEv2 supports MOBIKE (Mobility and Multi-homing Protocol) make it more stable.
• IKEv2 supports EAP (Extensible Authentication Protocol) authentication, for safer communication.
• IKEv2 can detect whether a tunnel is still alive and it has the Keep Alive option enabled by default.
• As IKEv2 uses a lower number of Security Associations (SA) required per tunnel, it reduces the required bandwidth.
• IKEv2 supports Asymmetric authentication.

Thus, you should choose IKEv2 over IKEv1 any time you can.

IKEv2 compatibility

The IKEv2 was adopted and can be set up on all major operating systems (including Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Linux) and various devices (routers, SmartTVs).

Due to its security features and stability, many VPN providers (e.g., NordVPN) use IKEv2 as the default protocol in their apps.

Advantages and disadvantages of IKEv2

Before setting up an IKEv2 VPN connection, you should take a minute and read about this VPN protocol’s pros and cons.

Advantages of using IKEv2

IKEv2 has some important benefits:

• It is secure as it supports multiple high-end ciphers for maximum protection.
• It is fast, despite implementing strong encryption.
• It is stable, as it allows users to switch between connections without dropping the protection. The efficient auto-reconnect feature is one of the most important features of IKEv2.
• It is supported on a wide variety of devices.

Disadvantages of using IKEv2

There is not much negative to say about IKEv2. One common complaint is that IKEv2 traffic can be easily blocked by firewalls, as it runs only on port 500 on UDP.

How to set up IKEv2 on your devices

Several options are available when it comes to setting IKEv2 on your device. The simplest is to install a VPN app that support the IKEv2 protocol, but, if you need to connect to your own VPN server, then you should go for the manual setup.

Additionally, you may set up IKEv2 on a router (some routers offer access to the IKEv2 protocol) and connect the devices you need to get the traffic encrypted directly to the router.

Manual IKEv2 setup

IKEv2 is one of the standard VPN protocols that can be set up on most operating systems from the VPN built-in modules. More precisely, you may set up IKEv2 (as well as L2TP or IPSec) without installing any additional app.

Firstly, you need to know the IKEv2 server name or IP address and the username/password for authentication (you may also use a certificate or use no authentication). You may obtain this info either from a VPN service provider or from the VPN network administrator. The third option is to have your own VPN server to connect to.

The manual IKEv2 setup consists of creating a VPN connection on your operating system of choice and filling in the connection settings. For example, on macOS you should perform the following steps:

1. Open System Preferences and click on the Network.
2. Click on the “+” button from the left side of the window to Create a new service.
3. For the Interface, select VPN.
4. Further, choose IKEv2 as the VPN Type.
5. Enter the connection name and click on the Create button.
6. Start the VPN configuration: enter the VPN server address (name or IP) to both the Server Address textbox and to the Remote ID field. You may let the Local ID textbox empty.
7. Next, click the Authentication Settings … button.
8. You may choose the authentication method (Username, Certificate, or None). For Username fill in the username and password. For the Certificate choose a machine authentication certificate that is already installed on your machine.
9. Finally, click the Apply button and then Connect.

Use VPN client apps

As IKEv2 is a fast and secure protocol, many VPN providers use it in their own apps, besides OpenVPN (TCP or UDP), WireGuard, or L2TP. Some even recommend IKEv2 as the default, automatic protocol, as is the case with Surfshark. Another great VPN service that we recommend and that uses IKEv2 in its apps is NordVPN.

IKEv2 on routers

Unfortunately, IKEv2 is not largely supported by routers, unlike PPTP or L2TP. However, support for IKEv2 Wi-Fi routers is expanding as some VPN providers invest in such solutions. A great example is ExpressVPN and the routers they offer.

Do you need more info on how to use a VPN on a router? Take a look at our comprehensive article!

IKEv2 alternative protocols

IKEv2 is one of the strongest VPN protocols that you may use to encrypt your online communication. However, you should know what are the differences between IKEv2 and other VPN protocols.

OpenVPN

OpenVPN is probably the most popular VPN protocol due to its over features and performance. It offers excellent encryption options, great speed, and it can be easily integrated into third-party security solutions. Plus, it is open-source, unlike IKEv2.

IKEv2 offers a similar level of protection and encryption, but it surpasses OpenVPN on the followings:

• High-speed throughput.
• Stability.
• Auto-reconnection.

IKEv2 is usually faster than OpenVPN, but it is a little bit behind in terms of compatibility.

Overall, you may use both IKEv2 and OpenVPN with confidence.

WireGuard

WireGuard is a new and elegant protocol that seems to be the future of VPN. It is open-source, secure, and easy to use.

Both protocols (IKEv2 and Wireguard) are safe and really fast, but if you want a more modern approach, you should go with Wireguard.

L2TP/IPSec (Layer 2 Tunneling Protocol)

As L2TP/IPSec offers acceptable speed and great encryption, it may be a good option for encrypting your VPN channels. L2TP is paired with IPSec in the same manner IKEv2 and IPSec work together. However, there are signs that L2TP/IPSec is no longer secure, as Snowden has claimed that the NSA has hacked it.

IKEv2/IPSec is faster than L2TP/IPSec since L2TP/IPSec is more resource-intensive due to its double encapsulation feature and takes longer to negotiate a VPN tunnel.

Another aspect in favor of IKEv2 is stability. Switching from one network to another is a smooth process with IKEv2, while L2TP may let you disconnected.

Softether

It is difficult to compare IKEv2 and Softether, as the latter is more than a VPN protocol. However, if we refer only to the protocol itself, Softether and IKEv2 are both secure.

Softether has some important advantages as it is open-source and it runs on port 443 (HTTPS), and, consequently, it is more difficult to be blocked.

SSTP (Secure Socket Tunneling Protocol)

SSTP is a secure VPN protocol mostly available on Windows devices. It uses SSL 3.0, and it is quite speedy.

SSTP and IKEv2 offer a similar level of encryption, but SSTP is more firewall resistant as it uses port 443. SSTP is only built-in on Windows operating system, unlike IKEv2 that is available on multiple platforms and devices (iOS, Android, macOS, Linux, etc.).

PPTP

PPTP is an outdated protocol and you should not use it unless you have no other choice available. It has multiple security-related issues. However, it is really fast. But, you should always go for IKEv2 if you have to choose between these two.

What is IKEv2? Summary.

The IKEv2 VPN is a strong, secure, stable, and fast VPN protocol. IKEv2 has no significant downsides, and you may use it confidently anytime you need to encrypt your online communication.

As explained, IKEv2 is easy to set up, and it is available on VPN apps offered by most VPN providers. And, it is very suitable for usage on mobile devices due to its stability when switching networks.

Do you want to learn more about the IKEv2 Protocol and other VPN-related issues? Subscribe to our newsletter (below). You will make a Transylvanian baby-bat very happy.

A mind at ease is already pleased. That is why I like to think that happiness doesn’t exist without peace of mind, just like hardware couldn’t work without its better half, the software. Since we’re talking about hardware and software, let’s discuss the VPN hardware vs. VPN software topic with a pinch of peace of mind.

So, on this post’s menu, we have the following selection: why is VPN important for our peace of mind, what is VPN software, and what makes it different than VPN hardware?

Let’s have a soft start to this article and begin with the Transylvanian explanation of VPN hardware vs. VPN software.

VPN hardware vs VPN software. The Transylvanian explanation

One upon a time, a friendly vampire lived in Transylvania. No matter how amiable he was, people avoided him. Therefore, he lived a very lonely life, a thing that made him really sad. Immortality was a heavy burden on his shoulders, as an eternity of loneliness sounds depressing even for vampires.

The fear he aroused among the people made him take the radical decision of never leaving his castle again. In just a few months, he read all the books in his library, watched all the series and movies on Netflix, and deep cleaned even the most hidden corners of his attic.

Driven by despair, he ordered a large mirror from VAMazon, the biggest e-commerce platform for vampires. In just a matter of days, he had the mirror delivered and installed in his castle chamber. He was excited beyond words that he will be finally able to see something moving around, except his shadow.

Despite his expectations, the idea of ordering a mirror proved to be a bad one. Why? Because he learned with astonishment that vampires’ reflection is not visible when they stand in front of a mirror. So, he started crying so loud that TomBat’s flock heard him from the far. They all gathered and decided to fly and follow the sounds. When they arrived at the castle’s open window, they saw the friendly vampire crying and crawling in pain.

Just like superheroes, they entered the room and surrounded the crying vampire. When he saw that some living creatures entered their chamber, he couldn’t believe his eyes. The friendly bats and our lonely vampire became best friends and, from that day on, as soon as the sun went down, they roamed the Transylvanian streets, having fun and enjoying the beauty of life.

Why is this story relevant to our VPN hardware vs VPN software discussion?

Because, my friends, hardware is a physical component of a computer, something we can see, like a mouse, a monitor, firewall, or a router. The software is a collection of instructions, tasks, and procedures, that are not visible, even if there are running “in front of us” on our computer.

So, our friendly vampire is, basically, hardware, as we can see it (and if we are brave enough, we can touch it), while the vampire in the mirror is the software since is there, but we can’t see it.

VPN technology is like a dose of chocolate for your internet connection. If chocolate would be able to help even a vampire hide his sadness on a Friday night, what do VPNs hide and do precisely to ensure peace of mind?

To use… or not to use a VPN?

I feel like we’re still at that point where internet users know stuff about VPN (Virtual Private Network) but consider this technology a tool for IT staff and tech gurus. In reality, the VPN is legal and easy-to-use, and it helps you accomplish the most basic online activities in complete online privacy, anonymity, and security.

The real question remains: What option does an internet surfer have when it comes to using a VPN? The answer is pretty simple; he can manually set up a VPN on the device of choice or go for VPN hardware or VPN software.

What is VPN hardware?

In IT, hardware (abbreviated as HW) is described as a physical and tangible component of a computer. Even its name leaks its definition. So, any component with a cord, or wirelessly attached to your computer or laptop is hardware. I also like to say that, without hardware, a computer would not exist, and without software, your hardware would be useless. Some examples of hardware: mouse, keyboard, webcam, hard drive, VPN firewall, RAM.

When it comes to the VPN world, there is VPN hardware that helps internet users protect one or more devices simultaneously. The best examples would be a VPN router or a VPN concentrator.

What is a VPN router?

Let’s be honest, nowadays, in every household or company, there are several computer and mobile devices connected to the Internet at the same time.

When you need to connect to the VPN from a bunch of devices simultaneously, having to connect to a series of applications might be time-consuming. To skip a few annoying steps, you can use a VPN router that helps you have a continuous active VPN connection fast and easily.

A VPN router is a regular router that supports various VPN protocols. Therefore, with the help of a VPN router, you can skip the manual configuration of the VPN on each device and enjoy a safer internet in a facile way.

Plus, a VPN router helps you ensure a secure and reliability for devices that otherwise are incapable of running a VPN service (Roku, Apple TV, or Xbox), cuts out the necessity of installing a VPN app, is easy to set up, and a great option for small businesses.

VPN users have a wide range of VPN routers to choose from. If you think about expanding your horizon and look for a VPN router to test its capabilities, Asus, Linksys, and Vilfo are three options worth trying.

What is a VPN concentrator?

Just like the VPN router, the VPN concentrator is hardware that acts like a networking device, capable of establishing multiple VPN connections and manage all of them at the same time.  The most important aspect any user should know about a VPN concentrator is that this standalone device suitable for large-scale corporations who want to provide a secure connection for their employees and allow their remote workers to easily and securely access the company’s resources.

These devices allow data encryption/decryption and create and manage multiple VPN tunnels in a single corporate network and manage users’ authentication and cryptographic keys.

The huge downside of a VPN concentrator is the price. Yet, companies decide to make a smart investment for their business and network security. From what I have read and heard, Cisco Meraki is a top-notch device that changes the way corporations manage their VPN network. 

What is VPN software?

It’s not much to say that software is your hardware’s boss. Software represents the set of programs and procedures that ensure the operation of a computer or device.

Just like any other application, VPN software allows users to enable a connection with a VPN server.

The VPN client software is an automated and controlled method developed to connect to a VPN server easily. The VPN providers are usually developing these kinds of security solutions for the most common operating systems (Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, and Linux).

Therefore, VPN software combines the VPN components (VPN server, VPN protocol, and encryption) in a single and compact application that allows users to activate a VPN connection with just a click.

Due to its ease of use, which requires no technical knowledge, a VPN app is a great option for people who don’t own technology at their fingertips. Plus, it allows users access to out-of-the-box features designed for advanced security or speedy connections. Among these VPN functions, I would mention Double VPN, Tor over VPN, obfuscated VPN, KillSwitch, selection of special servers for gaming or torrenting, split tunneling, secure protocols like WireGuard, OpenVPN, or Shardowsocks, SoftEther, or options that allow you to connect to the fastest server, based on your location.

Just check how, in two steps, you are able to surf the web securely and without restrictions.

When it comes to the available option, you must know that there is native VPN software created by VPN protocol developers (OpenVPN, WireGuard, SoftEther) or third-party VPN apps created by the best VPN service providers (NordVPN, ExpressVPN, StrongVPN, CyberGhost, etc.).

VPN hardware vs VPN software

Maybe you think that comparing software with hardware is inappropriate. Since the purpose of both VPN hardware and VPN software is to create a VPN tunnel and ensure a private means of communication between one’s device and the Internet, I see no problem comparing them.

Security, the capability of unlocking restricted content, seamless connections, or speed are just a few important aspects a VPN-related product should meet. So, let’s see how VPN hardware and VPN software perform when it comes to users’ key expectations.

Security

A VPN’s main purpose is to create a private and secured connection between a user’s device and the world-wide-web. Security is also important, no matter if you’re a company or a person. In both these cases, sensitive information that needs to be protected is sent over the web.

The great news is that VPN concentrators and reputable VPN apps do a great job at encrypting and securing the traffic.

Speed

In the era of ultra-fast Internet connections, who has the time to wait for his page to load? It’s no news that a VPN may cause connection speed loss, so it’s mandatory to test a VPN before actually subscribing. Just like in the case of security, when it comes to fast connections and an awesome online experience while working (or better, while unblocking BBC iPlayer or Netflix), both solutions do a great job fulfilling these goals.

Setup

Now that we know VPN hardware and software are great for security purposes and provide satisfying speed let’s find out what setting up such solutions implies.

I am pretty sure you’ve installed a bunch of apps so far. You know how things go – download the app, click on the install button, wait a few seconds, and, just like magic, the app is there, at your disposal. Installing VPN software is not different. Therefore you don’t have to be a geek to accomplish the task.

On the other side of the bridge, we have a hardware VPN that requires some nerves and tech knowledge, as you will need to do mainly everything manually.

The capability of unblocking websites

Internet censorship and other online restrictions take over users’ online freedom. Users in China or Korea are not able to surf the web regularly. Youtube, Google, even Facebook or Instagram are banned in these countries. Therefore, regaining their online freedom and rights are essential aspects for plenty of internet users.

VPN proves to do a pretty good job at unblocking geo-restricted content. There are even special protocols integrated into VPN apps developed for such purposes.

Unfortunately, hardware VPN is not capable of unblocking restricted content. I am not sure if this is a drawn-back, as the purpose of a VPN concentrator, for example, is not to allow employees to access Netflix but to work securely, safely, and to improve productivity.

Remote access

It’s clear who’s the winner, right? Hardware VPN is specially developed to provide secure remote access. Therefore, it does a stellar job fulfilling this task.

On the other hand, software VPN does not provide you the exact IP address every time you connect to a server. Yet, there is the possibility to opt for static or dedicated IP addresses, a benefit that VPN providers usually support.

Scalability

Let’s say that you’re a company that goes for a hardware VPN. In time, your company expands, and your number of employees grows. If your device supports only 150 connections, then your 151st employee will not use the VPN connection. Therefore, in the case of hardware VPN, scaling is not something that defines this solution.

It is known that VPN apps are more popular among regular internet users. VPN services usually provide up to 15 simultaneous connections, which should be more than plenty for a household.

Price

A VPN is a must-have these days. But if a VPN solution is too pricy, that it will remain only nice to have.

The price for a hardware VPN ranges from $50 to “shy is the limit.” On the other hand, you can get a VPN subscription from a top provider that comes with plenty of apps and lots of perks for just a few bucks. Moreover, VPN providers spoil their customers with generous discount campaigns when anyone interested can get a VPN with up to 80% OFF.

Before closing the book on the price subject, I must highlight that, no matter how low on a budget you are, never opt for a free VPN or lifetime subscriptions. NEVER!

Final thoughts.

VPN hardware vs. VPN software subject brings to light the pros and cons of these two solutions. Yet, security, the most important aspect that these two technologies must meet, is checked.

When it comes to their target market, hardware VPN is more popular among companies who need to secure access to their network. Simultaneously, software VPN is suitable for private users who want to secure their traffic while connected to a public WiFi network, avoid ISP surveillance, unblock websites, avoid bandwidth throttling, encrypt their connection, and other VPN appliances.

Price is another important decision-maker, and, in this particular case, software VPN is way cheaper than hardware VPN.

Another thing that you should keep in mind is that subscribing to my newsletter is free of charge. I promise you newsletters, filled with catchy tech talks, sent to your inbox straight from Transylvania.

The history of the VPN (Virtual Private Network) technology is closely related to Microsoft’s PPTP and goes back to 1996. Tunneling protocols already existed, as, without them, the data packet moving from a network to another wouldn’t be possible. Therefore, the PPTP didn’t reinvent the wheel, but it brought along a more secure and private way of communication.

With the Internet expanding and cybersecurity blooming, VPN technology transformed into one of the most powerful and easy-to-use tools for enhanced online security and privacy.

Large corporations spotted the potential behind this technology, and the VPN became popular among businesses from the very beginning. Due to the market’s constant request for advanced security solutions, another option came to life – the VPN concentrator.

What is a VPN concentrator, who uses a VPN concentrator, and why is a VPN concentrator different than a VPN router – are just some of the questions I will answer in this article.

So, CONCENTRATE and stick with me!

The Transylvanian explanation

For a while now, the MegaBats are terrorizing the pacifist bat colonies. Moving to my castle was only a temporary solution. As soon as TomBat and his bat gang decided to return to their cave, the MegaBats started to bother them again. Not only do the little evil creatures bully their neighbors but, since the winter is not showing signs of leaving and their food supply is going low, the MegaBats started some attacks against TomBat’s colony, meant for stealing their food.

The intruders conducted some successful missions, and if they continue to do so, TomBat and his neighbors are at risk of remaining without food and starve.

Since the aftermath is not in the good bats’ favor, they needed to come up with a fast and efficient solution to keep the MegaBats away from their cave.

After a bat-council meeting, the final decision was to install not only one but a bunch of surveillance cameras around the entrance of their cave, placed in different positions and angles, so they can spot the MegaBats ready to attack, spying around the corners. In this way, they can gather forces and guard the main entrance of the cave, preventing MegaBats from entering and reaching the supply pantry.

The investment in the surveillance system proved to be the right decision as it helped the bats to keep away the mighty intruders.

When it comes to real-life challenges, a solution that would help more than one individual keep away mighty hackers and online threats would be a VPN concentrator.

“How?“, you may ask! This is how!

What is a VPN concentrator?

A VPN uses three main components (VPN server, VPN protocol, encryption) to create a private connection over a public network. Such a connection is also known as a VPN tunnel.

Anytime a VPN user enables a VPN connection, the VPN components combine and securely transport the data over the Internet.

VPNs meet the most stringent criteria in terms of online security, privacy, and anonymity. Therefore, they are a must-have for most businesses who operate multiple systems connected via a network. Enjoying a VPN’s perks implies that each remote employee has a VPN installed on his device. This condition translates into costs directly proportional to the organization’s dimension and the number of employees. Hence, a way to overcome this inconvenience but still enjoy the benefits of a VPN was mandatory. The answer to all of the pains is a VPN concentrator.

The VPN concentrator is a networking device capable of establishing multiple VPN connections and managing plenty of VPN connections remotely.

This solution for extensive security can manage VPN connections on a multi-user level in a “compact” and secure manner, making it the perfect solution for private and encrypted communication.

At this very point, you may think that there’s not much difference between a VPN concentrator and a VPN router when, in reality, there is more than one distinction.

Stick with me, and you’ll learn why I support this statement!

Why is a VPN concentrator useful?

If you’re curious what does a VPN concentrator do, then you must know that it puts the light on the same benefits as a regular VPN, and it also brings its pluses. 

Here are a few of the most important things a VPN concentrator accomplishes:

• Encrypt and decrypt the connection from an end to another
• Multiple VPN tunnels in a single corporate network
• New IP address for all users
• Manages users’ authentication and cryptographic keys

How does a VPN concentrator work?

A VPN concentrator is a device designed to ensure and facilitate communication between different VPN nodes, that uses either IPsec (Internet Protocol Security) or SSL (Secure Socket Layer) encryption protocols. This advanced solution helps remote users access a network and, implicitly, access files on certain computers.

Since it grants access to users located in different parts of the world, it is the most ready-to-hand solution for big companies that have to find a way to allow their remote workers to access the company’s resources so they can stick to their work and complete their daily tasks.

Looking again at things from this perspective, we may assume that a VPN concentrator is more like a VPN router.

VPN concentrators are often confused with site-to-site VPN services. The difference is that site-to-site VPNs have a fixed location limitation. They allow users to enable a connection only between fixed points (several offices, office-home office, etc.).

VPN concentrators are picked and set up based on a series of important factors – the type and the scale of the organization, the type of files that are about to be accessed and shared over the secured connection, and, of course, the security standards the company wants to achieve.

VPN concentrator vs. VPN router

VPN concentrators and VPN routers are similar devices (VPN hardware) that operate in the same way but are differentiated by a series of, let’s say, features.

The most important thing that makes these solutions so different is the number of simultaneous connections that can be established. If a VPN router has some limitations, you must know that a VPN concentrator can support thousands of users connected at the same time.

Yet, we have our first important conclusions: for meeting your corporate needs, you shall consider a VPN concentrator, and for multiple connections at home, go for a VPN router.

More connections bring along increased costs. A VPN concentrator is much more expensive than a router, that’s why not many people are just falling all over themselves to buy such an advanced and expensive device.

VPN concentrator encryption protocols

IPsec encryption

Internet Protocol Security (IPsec) is a secure network used by VPNs to facilitate secure and encrypted communication on the Internet. VPN concentrator providers consider IPsec as a good option since it is a secure and effective protocol. Through IPsec, apps are able to run without being aware that the client is coming from outside the network. The only disadvantage to his option is that, for enhanced security, additional tools should be configured and used to decrease the risks. Due to its working mode, an IPsec connection is the best way for connecting branch offices with the headquarter.

SSL encryption

SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) is the successor of TLS (Transport Layer Security) and is a protocol meant for establishing encrypted and authenticated connections between computers on the same network.

SSL VPN clients are installed into the browsers or operating systems, granting access based on a username and password.  

SSL VPNs eliminate the need to manually configure each end-to-end device. The downside of an SSL connection is that only web-based applications will work, therefore, users will not have access to shared resources like printers, or similar resources that they can access via an IPsec connection.

Which is the best VPN concentrator?

Folks, I need to spill the beans. I have never used or configured a VPN concentrator. Since some of you may be curious about which is the best VPN concentrator, I have decided to invest some time in researching which would be the best solution from the available options. 

After digging into the subject, the award goes to Cisco.

Cisco Meraki changes the way companies manage their VPN network, its VPN concentrators provide comprehensive security in a single box, are easy to deploy, and bring an impressive list of features, like the ones presented below:

• Intrusion prevention
• Auto VPN
• Next-gen firewall
• Content filtering
• Malware protection
• High availability & failover
• Centralized management

VPN concentrator FAQ

VPN concentrator – let’s concentrate on conclusions!

It is safe to say that VPNs come in lots of forms. Depending on the VPN provider you choose, you can use advanced VPN features like the VPN Killswitch, split tunneling, Smart DNS, state-of-the-art VPN protocols like Wireguard or OpenVPN, ultra-fast connections, and ready-to-use VPN servers designed for gaming, torrenting, streaming, online freedom or double protection. We can enjoy all these perks bundled with other benefits, with just a click, anytime we want to secure our internet access and sensitive information.

The sensitive information comes into question when we speak about the online tasks we perform at work as well. Our employer should pay as much attention to these details as we are paying as individuals. Can you imagine what an effort would be for a multinational corporation to buy and provide NordVPN or ExpressVPN client software for each employee? To overcome this difficulty, organizations have a great option at their fingertips – the VPN concentrator.

This device comes as a compact solution for managing thousands of VPN connections and securing all the information and traffic generated by employees based in different locations. Since its main purpose is to serve companies’ need for security and privacy, this powerful device is not suitable for regular internet users. For folks looking to secure multiple devices at the same time, a VPN router like Vilfo would do the job really, really well.

Are you curious what’s the other thing that goes great with online security? My bi-monthly newsletter you must subscribe to by using the form below. It will help you stay up to date with the latest tech news, and it will also make a Transylvanian-bat happy! It’s a win-win situation, trust me!

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Geo-blocking is an internet censorship technique that restricts access to certain websites based on the user’s location. This practice is mainly applied by giant services such as Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Hulu, or Pandora, as they provide loads of intellectual property online. Since the copyrighted material is usually available only to a particular location or region, you can conclude why geo-blocking is practiced in the first place.

If you’re actively looking for a solution to overcome internet censorship and geo-restrictions, you have probably heard terms like VPN, Smart DNS, and DNS. What are these technologies, and who will win the fight between VPN vs. DNS vs. Smart DNS? Let’s find out together!

But firsts, let’s find out how the VPN vs. Smart DNS vs. DNS is explained in my location, Transylvania.

The VPN vs. DNS vs. Smart DNS competition. The Transylvanian explanation.

Springs brings not only beautiful colors to the Transylvanian fields, warm sun that spoils our faces, and happy birds that chirp at our windows in the morning. Spring also brings local competitions that spice up the whole majestic atmosphere.

The Castlevanian bats are crazy about one certain event that gathers all the vehicle enthusiasts in one place.

Le Tour de Castlevania is an annual competition that challenges its participants to find the best vehicle to take them from start to finish as fast as possible. In this year’s edition, the public’s favorites were PonyBat, TomBat, and AnonymousBat. Everyone was placing their bets, but the victory resumes to the participant who picks its vehicle wiselier.

On the competition’s day, people were more than surprised. PonyBat made her appearance with her pink cabin scooter, TomBat picked a motorcycle, while AnonymousBat made a humble appearance by choosing to ride his bike in the competition.

When the race began, TomBat started the competition with a breakneck speed, followed by PonyBat with her fancy scooter, then other bats riding ATVs, motorcycles, and crosses followed in the line. AnonymousBat was the last one in line for the title.

Unfortunately, our participants picking motor vehicles ignored some important aspects such as the traffic jams, waiting at the traffic lights, or the train barriers. All these impediments must be considered when you need to make it from point A to point B without obstacles and restrictions.

It was no big surprise when AnonymousBat started to surpass each of his opponents. Because he picked a bike, he was able to trick the system and ride the sidewalk when the traffic lights were red, and he was able to easily sneak through the heavy traffic, making it to the finish line before everyone else.

Why is this story relevant to our topic?

Because each of these vehicles and each of our technologies (Smart DNS, VPN, and DNS) are meant to take you from point A to point B. It is highly important to know what each of these does and how they facilitate your online journey.

The DNS, the motorcycle in my story, is meant to help you visit a website without you being constrained to include the exact IP address of your website you want to access in your web browser’s search bar.

The VPN, the cabin scooter in my example, helps you visit a website and bypass censorship while being protected and secured from ISP surveillance or hackers (this could translate as bad weather in my example).

The Smart DNS, the bike in my example, helps you visit a website and bypass censorship by tricking websites into seeing your location as an eligible one.

I know this may be a little too much to digest but have no fear, Vlad is here, ready to describe each technology from scratch.

What is DNS?

DNS stands for Domain Name System, and it is used to translate Internet domain names into IP addresses. This technology acts as an address book for internet domains. A domain name, like the one you visit at the moment (www.vladtalks.tech), has a specific IP address in the back. The DNS helps your browser translate your domain name into the exact IP address associated with the domain you need to access.

The list of domain names and IP addresses are distributed through the Internet in a hierarchy of authority. A DNS server is located close to your access provider that maps the domain names in your Internet requests or forwards them to other servers on the Internet.

Imagine how difficult would be to memorize the IP address of every website you need to access. The DNS surely knows how to ease our online experience while surfing the web.

What is VPN?

I get the sense that if you’re a constant reader of my blog, the VPN needs no further introduction.

Yet, practice makes perfect, right? Therefore, a little reminder never killed nobody (or at least I hope so).

VPN (Virtual Private Network) is used to add security and privacy to private and public networks, like public WiFi Hotspots. The VPN acts exactly like the cabin scooter in my example. It offers you protection against bad weather, and it transports you securely to your destination.

Usually, internet users set up a private VPN service, also known as a VPN tunnel, to protect their online activity and identity.

In an era where we are confronting lots of threats, like the rise in cybercrime during the pandemic, VPN technology came as a native answer to people’s requests to protect their online privacy, as by using an anonymous VPN service, the Internet traffic and data remain encrypted.

The military-grade encryption used in a VPN connection is almost unbreakable. Even if your ISP (Internet Service Provider) might recognize that you use a VPN, it won’t be able to track your final destination on the web.

Moreover, armed with a VPN, you can easily change your IP virtual location, get access to advanced security features (like Kill Switch), and you can fight against DPI, and bandwidth throttling.

The awesome part is that a VPN is compatible with the most popular operating systems (Windows, Android, Mac, iOS) and devices (Apple devices, smartphones, or Smart TVs), even on a VPN router. Therefore, enabling a VPN connection can be done whenever you want, wherever you are, with just a simple click or tap.

How does a VPN work?

To ensure a highly-secured internet connection, a new IP address, and complete anonymity in relation to your ISP, the VPN combines a series of components – a VPN server, a VPN protocol of your choice, and an encryption standard.

Anytime you decide to enable a VPN connection (no matter if you set it up manually or choose a VPN app aka VPN software to do the job), you are automatically connected to a VPN server. This server is located in a different country or region. At this point, you are assigned a brand-new IP address corresponding to your server’s location of choice. After this task is completed, the VPN server, helped by the VPN protocol and the encryption standard, encrypts your traffic and transports it to the desired destination on the web. The same principle applies when the response comes back to your device, meaning that your connection is encrypted from an end to another, back and forth.

Looking at things from our perspective of interest – the capability of a VPN to unblock a website -, we can easily conclude that this thing is made possible by the new IP address you receive. Therefore, if you’re located in Germany and want to access BBC iPlayer, you will need a VPN server located in the UK, as BBC iPlayer is available only in this country.

An important thing that you should keep in mind is that giant streaming services use advanced tracking and blocking algorithms for VPN detection. BBC iPlayer and Netflix are great examples of this practice. In such a case, the worst thing that may happen is that the service recognizes that you’re using a VPN, and it won’t grant you access to your account. In this situation, all you need to do is try again by using a different server and (possibly) a different browser or direct your attention to different solutions like Smart DNS or proxy.

VPN pros and cons.

What is Smart DNS?

Smart DNS, like its name suggests, is a smarter version of the DNS I was just telling you about. Smart DNS uses a server to help you spoof your location. This technique is specially developed to help internet users access geo-blocked content.

The Smart DNS proxy directs your traffic to a server, and only after this task is completed, it sends your request to the world-wide-web.

Just like the VPN, the Smart DNS service is also paid. Yet, compared to the VPN, Smart DNS does not hide your IP as it does not use a VPN server, and it does not encrypt your traffic, as it does not use a VPN protocol and an encryption standard.

Even so, the Smart DNS solution is doing a great job at tricking websites into seeing your location as an eligible one, granting you with a fast connection to enjoy your favorite streaming services like Netflix, BBC iPlayer, or Hulu.

How does Smart DNS work?

This sneaky technology that tricks a website into seeing your location as an eligible one, replaces your DNS address assigned by your ISP with a new one associated with the DNS server used for traffic routing. In order to do so, the technology uses a proxy server and a DNS server. This server can be located anywhere in the world and is provided by a Smart DNS provider.

The brand-new DNS address does not contain any information on your real geo-location. The smart and cool thing is that Smart DNS analyzes your request and replaces any information that may leak your location and, helped by the proxy server, is pointing to a location where the website you want to unblock is available.

This is how Smart DNS works magic on your location!

Smart DNS pros and cons.

Is Smart DNS the same as a proxy?

This is 100% a legit question to ask when it comes to Smart DNS and proxy.

In short terms, NO, Smart DNS is not a proxy, and it does not work like one.

The proxy technology uses a special proxy server to change your IP address and allow you to surf the web freely and anonymously. As this thing happens, websites won’t know your real identity. Compared to the VPN, the proxy does not offer encryption. On the other hand, Smart DNS does not change your IP address or encrypt your traffic. Yet, compared to the proxy, Smart DNS is able to unblock websites available in different countries, at the same time, as it won’t change your IP to a different location, since it only tricks websites by changing your DNS.

Smart DNS vs VPN. Is Smart DNS better than VPN?

Now that we know that DNS is a completely different thing, compared to the VPN and Smart DNS, let’s focus on the battle between these two similar but very different technologies.

Compared to a VPN (Virtual Private Network), the Smart DNS does not provide encrypted connections, and it does not change the IP address of the device in use. Instead, it changes the device’s DNS, providing access to restricted content.

Because the Smart DNS does not encrypt data, the connection between a website and a computer is much faster than the connection established through a VPN tunnel. Smart DNS is not a technology developed for online security and privacy purposes. For additional security, encryption, and advanced features, internet users should take into consideration using a VPN service.

Just how it happens in case of the comparison with a VPN, compared with a proxy, Smart DNS is way faster.

VPN vs DNS vs Smart DNS. FAQ on this subject

Let’s sum things up!

One thing is for sure. We cannot declare a clear winner of the VPN vs. DNS vs. Smart DNS war since this isn’t a battle. Each of the discussed technologies has its purpose.

If we reduce the whole discussion to a single thing – security – then yes, we have a winner – the VPN.

Therefore, it is really important to draw your online expectations.

If you look for advanced security, online freedom, and privacy, then you must use the VPN. On the other hand, if you want to surf fast, free (but unprotected), you should go for the Smart DNS. But, if you want to get access to both, you may subscribe to a VPN service that offers Smart DNS. Smart, isn’t it?

Last but not least, if you’re interested in VPN and VPN-related news, then you should consider subscribing to my newsletter by using the form below.

See you in your inbox! K?

VPN Gate is a free VPN solution used by millions of Internet enthusiasts. It was developed as an academic research project, and it has plenty of advantages. But is VPN Gate the perfect VPN solution? Let’s find out.

We do not (usually) recommend free VPN services due to security and privacy concerns. We believe that Internet users’ private data is far too important to be endangered by free VPNs (we explain here why, in more detail). However, we have chosen to present VPN Gate because it is an academic project. There are plenty of interesting details regarding the architecture and the technical solutions adopted for the implementation.

From the very beginning, it is necessary to underline that VPNGate is not an ordinary VPN service. This article takes a closer look at the VPNGate project, presents its advantages, explains the disadvantages, underlines the possible privacy and security issues, and shows how you may connect to the VPN Gate network.

The Transylvanian story of a gate to freedom

The life of bats is not simple in Castlevania. There is always a bigger bat that can make your life miserable.

From the beginning of winter, the MegaBats have started to close communication routes between the other colonies of bats. They were able to intercept the messengers and lock them down. Why were they doing that? Because they could. For some bats, this kind of motivation is enough. Sad, but true.

To every problem, there is a solution. GrandPaBat and the other bats from the Council of Elders have gathered to find a way out to these arbitrarily-imposed communication restrictions.

– My fellow bats, there must be a way to stop this abuse! We need to share news regarding food, shelter, or possible dangers between us, the regular bats! Our survival is at stake.

And, indeed, they found a way. They established to use Vlad’s castle as their safe harbor, their gate to freedom. When a group of bats would have something to share with the other bats, it should send a messenger, using a safe route (as far as the MegaBats as possible), to the castle. The messenger would entrust GrandPaBat and TomBat with the news and let them spread the knowledge to the other groups. No direct, unprotected communication between bat communities, lesser chances to lose important information.

Similar to the workaround found by the bats from Castlevania, VPN Gate represents a way to bypass censorship and keep the information private and secure.

And now, let’s find out how VPNGate works and how to use it!

What is VPN Gate and why was it created?

VPN Gate is an experimental project created at the University of Tsukuba that has the declared goal to expand the knowledge of “Global Distributed Public VPN Relay Servers” and to find better solutions for distributed VPN server systems.

VPNGate is a network of VPN servers provided by volunteers worldwide, a server network that uses the SoftEther VPN technology for encrypting data, routing traffic, and secure communication. The VPN Gate’s main purpose is to hide your IP address while browsing the Internet and help you benefit from the other VPN’s advantages. The usage of VPNGate is free, and no registration is needed.

The software running the VPN Gate server network is based on the SoftEther technology, and it was developed as a plug-in to extend SoftEther. Both projects (SoftEther and VPNGate) are operated at the University of Tsukuba, but it is important to mention that VPN Gate is not part of SoftEther.

How does VPN Gate work?

VPN Gate represents the infrastructure that allows servers to be added by volunteers. The architecture is based on the SoftEther technology and benefits from its advantages (performance, security, multiple protocols).

When a volunteer installs the SoftEther VPN server software on his Windows machine, the server is added to the public list, and it can be discovered by interested users.

When a VPN Gate user needs to connect to the network, he/she looks through the available servers listed, picks one, and directly connects to it (as presented below). No data traffic is passed through the VPNGate network, only between the user, the VPN server, and the Internet.

When to use the VPN Gate network?

VPN Gate is a totally free solution to connect to a VPN, hide your IP address, and encrypt your Internet traffic.

The VPN Gate is useful in certain scenarios to:

• Bypass governmental firewalls. The main goal of VPN Gate is to enhance Internet freedom. The SoftEther VPN protocol works on HTTPS, and it is especially difficult to be detected and blocked. Thus, it is ideal for bypassing firewalls of any type, including the Great Wall of China.
• Bypass geo-restrictions or ISP throttling. Some content (streaming channels, websites, forums, apps) is only available in certain countries or regions. By connecting to a VPNGate server from the country with access to the content, you may enjoy an awesome online experience without any restrictions.

However, before you start using it, make sure you read the disadvantages and the security concerns.

Advantages and disadvantages of VPN Gate

Like any other VPN solution, VPN Gate has pros and cons. I will list them below to help you decide whether VPN Gate is suitable for you or not.

Advantages of using VPN Gate

VPN Gate is free, but this is not the only advantage it has:

• It is open source.
• It is part of a research project backed up by a prestigious university.
• There is an important community that sustains the project.
• The network consists of more than 17,000 servers (only several hundred are listed at any given time, for security reasons).
• Servers are not placed in data centers, and they are harder to be blocked based on IP ranges.
• It provides access to several VPN protocols with high encryption (256-bit): SoftEther, OpenVPN, IPSec, SSTP.
• Many servers use the SoftEther protocol, which is very safe, fast, and stealthy.
• Some servers can unblock streaming channels like Netflix, BBC player, etc.
• Some VPN servers allow torrent traffic.
• You benefit from unlimited server and country switching.
• It can be configured on most devices, including routers.
• There are no IP leaks.

Disadvantages of using VPN Gate

Even though the list of advantages is impressive, the VPN Gate network has its drawbacks:

• It is too complicated for the average Internet user.
• Many servers provide slow speed as they are basic computers located in residential areas.
• The connectivity and overall performance are unstable.
• On mobile devices (iPhone, iPad, Android), you may not connect using the SoftEther protocol.
• It may be difficult to find a certain location or country since only a small part of the network is listed.
• The general logging policy of the network is that servers keep logs for two weeks. You may check specific logging settings for each server in the server list.
• Servers offered by volunteers may serve you ads (as some users have reported).

Is VPN Gate trustworthy? Privacy and security concerns

VPN Gate looks excellent from many angles: it is free, it was created and it is maintained by an academic institution, it is open source. But, should you completely trust it with your private data? I say you would rather not.

VPN Gate was created primarily as a research project to help those in need of bypassing governmental censorship. And for that it is great! You will probably not find a better free tool.

The weak spot of VPNGate is the fact that volunteers provide the servers. Even though VPN Gate’s technology seems secure both for the user and the volunteer, there are still concerns about the way server owners manage users’ data. For example, volunteers may have access to connection and usage logs. Are you comfortable with the thought that someone you don’t know and is not restrained by any regulation has access to such data?

Additionally, as stated on the website, the VPN Gate team may hand in your activities’ logged data if requested by official authorities.

Thus, if your data and activities’ privacy is important to you, my advice is to choose a premium VPN service, such as NordVPN, ExpressVPN, Surfshark, or Mullvad. They are better to keep your Internet traffic data safe and maintain your privacy than some volunteers from random locations around the globe.

VPN Gate vs. free VPN

VPN Gate is free, but there are clear distinctions to free VPNs.

Most (if not all) free VPNs have the goal to make money, but they do not charge you directly, unlike commercial VPNs. Free VPNs are monetizing their users either through showing ads or by selling their data. That is why we do NOT recommend free VPN solutions.

VPN Gate defines a generic infrastructure that is regulated by the team at the University of Tsukuba. VPN servers are exposed to the network by volunteers, free of charge, of course, with the only declared goal to help the project research and help those in need for bypassing various restrictions or government’s firewalls.

Still, my advice is to use VPNGate cautiously and only when you can not afford to get a paid VPN or don’t have a better alternative. There is still a possibility that a VPN server may be corrupted and get your data traffic exposed.

How to set up VPN Gate on your devices

There are several ways to connect to a VPN Gate server and there are two aspects that you need to take into consideration:

• the VPN protocols that are exposed by a VPN Gate server;
• the operating system of the device you want to connect from.

The steps to connect to a VPN Gate servers are:

1. Open the VPN Gate Public VPN Relay Server list (www.vpngate.net) and choose a VPN server from any location you want (you may select the server taking into account the scoring that is related to the overall performance of the server);
2. Check the protocols shown by the desired server (SoftEther/SSL-VPN, OpenVPN, MS-SSTP, L2TP/IPSec);
3. Choose the protocol suitable for the device you want to connect to the VPN server (check the table below);
4. Download and install any app that you need to connect (the SoftEther client, the OpenVPN app);
5. Fill in the VPN connection properties (server hostname or IP address, port number, type of connection: UDP or TCP for OpenVPN or SoftEther, username and password). For all servers, usernames and passwords are “vpn“.
6. Connect to the server (no registration is needed).

And here are the protocols suitable for the most popular operating systems (devices):

Thus, for Windows, you may install the official SoftEther VPN client and connect using the SSL VPN protocol. There is also a VPN Gate Client plugin that integrates with the SoftEther app and initiates the VPN Gate connection with a click.

You may also connect from the built-in VPN clients available on Windows with Microsoft SSTP or L2TP/IPSec. OpenVPN is also an option by installing the OpenVPN client app.

On Linux, all options are available, with the limitation that, for SSTP, you need to install an SSTP library.

On Mac, there are options to connect to a SoftEther VPN server, and I have described them in detail here. Using the SoftEther protocol is possible but does not always work as it depends on a third-party, outdated app.

On mobile devices (iOS, Android), SSL VPN and SSTP are not available, but you may connect using L2TP/IPSec (with the built-in VPN client) or OpenVPN (by downloading the official OpenVPN client app).

Several tutorials on how to access VPN Gate are available on the official website.

How to install a VPN Gate server on your computer

Would you like to help others bypass Internet censorship? Then, you may consider sharing your Internet connection and become a volunteer in the VPN Gate network.

You need a Windows computer. Then you have to install the SoftEther VPN server, activate and configure the VPN Gate service, and (optionally) enable L2TP/IPsec VPN for your guests.

I strongly recommend you carefully read what the installation of the VPN Gate server on your computer involves. You may find all the details and installation info here.

VPN Gate FAQ

Conclusion. Should you use VPN Gate?

VPNGate, the Japanese academic project, is a solid VPN solution, ideal for bypassing Internet censorship and unblocking restricted websites. It may be a valuable tool for Internet users from countries where free Internet access is restricted, for activists or journalists.

However, it may be complicated to set it up, find a fast server, and change VPN locations. Additionally, the fact that VPN servers are exposed and controlled by anonymous volunteers may be a deal-breaker.

Should you use it? My advice is to connect to VPN Gate only when you have no choice, when you can not afford to subscribe to a premium VPN service, or when you cannot solve your problem with a premium VPN. Top VPN providers offer access to friendly apps, plenty of servers, access to advanced security options (Kill Switch, split tunneling), or fancy server options (obfuscated servers, Double VPN, Onion over VPN, Shadowsocks).

You have reached the final of our article on VPN Gate. Please subscribe to our newsletter (below), and we promise to keep you updated with news and tutorials on SoftEther and VPN Gate. Plus, you will make a Transylvanian baby-bat very happy.

SoftEther is a relatively new VPN project that helps people bypass Internet restrictions and surf the Internet more securely. This article explains what SoftEther VPN is and how to connect to a SoftEther server with various VPN protocols.

We live in a strange World (probably an understatement after surviving 2020). More and more restrictions are imposed on every level of our lives. And the Internet is no exception, and it has not been the exception during the last years.

Access to an open Internet must be everyone’s right. Thankfully, some technologies help us bypass abusively imposed rules. And SoftEther is one of the great ones.

This article takes a closer look at the SoftEther technology, presents its advantages (as well as disadvantages), explains how to connect using the SoftEther protocol, and lists several options on how to get started with SoftEther.

What is SoftEther VPN? The Transylvanian story.

You probably know already that in our fictitious realm (that we called Castlevania, and we virtually placed it in Transylvania, not such a fictitious place), a family of smart bats is running a small chocolate factory.

Their street shop has been heavily hit by the pandemic (as most small businesses have been), but they were able to adapt. TomBat rapidly set up an online shop, and bats all over the World started to order the fang-tastic chocolate made in Castlevania.

A problem soon became more stringent than the pandemic situation: how to properly wrap the chocolate to keep it fresh and maintain the strong cocoa taste (remember: bats do not use preservatives!). And how to maintain the cost low and remain competitive?

After some intensive brainstorming sessions led by GrandPaBat, they decided to split the orders depending on the delivery location, keep the existing wrapping for local orders, and use a new, performant packaging for long-distance orders. Thus, they were able to provide the best possible service and still keep the prices low.

Solution found! And they all lived happily ever after until the end of the pandemic!

Similarly, the SoftEther VPN server can wrap your data traffic into various packaging suitable in different scenarios, and the SoftEther protocol is the new and performant packaging.

And now, let’s talk tech!

What is SoftEther VPN?

Softether (Software Ethernet) is a project developed at the University of Tsukuba (Japan) by Daiyuu Nobori. It proposes a VPN protocol (Softether or SSL VPN) and the architecture of a VPN server capable of serving multiple VPN protocols (Softether, OpenVPN, SSTP, L2TP/IPSec) simultaneously.

Both the Softether protocol and the Softether server are open-sourced, free, and cross-platform. Softether is presented as an alternative to OpenVPN, and it is considered to be faster.

All the features SoftEther provides strengthen its ability to help users navigate safely and bypass any government firewall, making it a popular VPN (Virtual Private Network) protocol.

Several of the SoftEther important features are listed below:

• Available under GNU GPL license;
• Uses 256-bit AES encryption;
• Supports SSL VPN, OpenVPN, EtherIP, L2TP, L2TPv3, and Microsoft’s SSTP protocols;
• Supports IPV6, packet filtering, and dynamic DNS function;
• It accepts both TCP and UDP connections;
• SoftEther VPN uses RSA certificate authentication and deep inspect packet logging function;
• SoftEther VPN client software implements Virtual Network Adapter, and the SoftEther server implements Virtual Ethernet Switch (called Virtual Hub);
• It runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, FreeBSD, Solaris, iOS, and Android.

How does SoftEther work?

The SoftEther VPN server is the central piece of the SoftEther architecture. As listed above, it supports a lot of features, and it provides great performance. The most important aspect is the fact that the server supports multiple protocols: VPN over HTTPS (SoftEther), OpenVPN, SSTP, L2TP/IPSec. Thus, you may use a SoftEther server as a gateway for various devices (PC, Mac, iPhone/iPad, Android devices, etc.) and VPN tunnels.

The SoftEther protocol uses HTTPS to establish a VPN tunnel and port 443 on TCP/IP as the destination. This port is open for most of the firewalls, proxy servers, and NATs. The result is that the SoftEther protocol can be used for bypassing Internet censorship successfully.

Besides the SoftEther protocol, the SoftEther server supports L2TP/IPSec and exposes “clone functions” for OpenVPN and Microsoft SSTP VPN.

When to use the SoftEther VPN protocol?

Now that you know how SoftEther works, you are probably wondering when to use SoftEther. The SoftEther protocol is highly useful in certain scenarios:

• Bypass firewalls. As it works on HTTPS, the SoftEther VPN protocol can overcome internet censorship and bypass most firewalls, including the Great Wall of China.
• Bypass geo-restrictions. As you might already know, some content is accessible only for specific countries or regions. With SoftEther VPN, you can enjoy an awesome online experience without any restrictions.
• Browse safely while using a public Wi-Fi network. Public Wi-fi networks are real threats. It would help if you always think twice before choosing to connect to one without using any protection. Due to its high encryption, SoftEther is a good option as it is secure and fast.

Advantages and disadvantages of SoftEther

Just like any other thing on this planet, SoftEther has its advantages and disadvantages. Let’s take a closer look at the strengths of this technology.

Advantages of using SoftEther

Softether has some important benefits:

• The Softether VPN project is open-source. Thus, free and constantly updated.
• The Softether protocol is fast, as it provides exceptional throughput and low latency.
• The Softether traffic can penetrate highly-restricted firewalls.
• The protocol uses high-level encryption (AES 256-bit and RSA 4096-bit).
• Softether fully supports both IPv4 and IPv6.
• No static nor fixed IP is required for Softether as it supports dynamic-DNS and the NAT traversal function.
• The SoftEther server software can successfully replace expensive Cisco routers.
• The SoftEther server may provide remote access to LAN or a remote location network with the SoftEther VPN Bridge module.

Disadvantages of using SoftEther

The SoftEther technologies has several drawbacks:

• To benefit from the SoftEther protocol’s advantages, users must install and run the SoftEther apps on intended devices.
• The macOS compatibility is not great.
• It is a pretty new technology compared to other protocols (OpenVPN, L2TP, SSTP).
• The SoftEther server does not (yet?) support the WireGuard protocol.

SoftEther vs. other protocols

SoftEther has often been compared to other similar VPN technologies, especially to OpenVPN. Take a look below to understand how SoftEther is related to other VPN protocols.

SoftEther vs. OpenVPN

OpenVPN is considered the de-facto standard when it comes to VPN protocols. However, SoftEther technology brings in useful features and high performance:

• According to some tests, the SoftEther protocol is faster than OpenVPN.
• SoftEther VPN server is multi-protocol. It is also a big plus compared to OpenVPN.
• All operating systems which support OpenVPN (e.g., Windows, Linux, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android) can connect to the SoftEther VPN server.
• The configuration of the SoftEther server is more straightforward than the one of the OpenVPN server.
• User admin settings can be configured by GUI (graphical user interface) tools.

I believe that the strongest point of SoftEther is that it can “clone” the OpenVPN server and, additionally, offers access to other VPN protocols. Thus, you may replace your existing OpenVPN servers, keep your existing VPN client settings, and still get access to the SoftEther protocol for future network development.

SoftEther seems to be a solid technology and, it may, in time, replace OpenVPN. However, there are no guarantees that this will happen. Only time will tell.

SoftEther vs. L2TP/IPSec (Layer 2 Tunneling Protocol)

L2TP/IPSec is a popular VPN protocol supported by all operating systems and by the majority of VPN providers. With acceptable speed and great encryption, L2TP is a good option to secure your Internet traffic. Operating systems offer access to built-in VPN clients for L2TP/IPSec, making the VPN connection setup easy.

However, the SoftEther protocol is superior both as to speed and encryption. Additionally, the SoftEther server supports L2TP/IPSec and provides easier integration from mobile phones or devices that can not, for various reasons, install the SoftEther client software.

SoftEther vs. SSTP (Secure Socket Tunneling Protocol)

The SSTP protocol, created by Microsoft, provides great security and performance, but its usage is limited to Windows devices (with some exceptions).

SoftEther comes with similar encryption and speed, and it can integrate (clone) the SSTP server. Thus, you may benefit from the SoftEther advantages and still offer SSTP to a slice of your VPN users. That means easier server administration, more flexibility, and lower costs (as you don’t need to purchase the expensive Windows Server operating system).

SoftEther vs. WireGuard

WireGuard is the new kid on the block when it comes to VPN protocol. Everybody is amazed by its simplicity, by its performances, and by its security features. WireGuard seemed to be faster than OpenVPN in our tests, but we have not (yet) performed any side-by-side comparison between WireGuard and SoftEther.

It is hard to compare WireGuard and SoftEther. The first one has chosen the simplicity path implementing the “less is more” principle. In contrast, the second one integrates more features than any other VPN protocol, and it may be regarded as a super VPN technology.

Again, time will tell which of these protocols will benefit from larger adoption.

SoftEther vs. PPTP

PPTP (Point to Point Tunneling Protocol) is an outdated VPN protocol known to have security issues. It is no longer supported on iOS and macOS. By design, the SoftEther server does not offer the possibility to connect to it using the PPTP protocol, probably for the same reasons.

The SoftEther protocol is considered safe, and if you can choose between PPTP and SoftEther, you should definitely choose the latter one.

SoftEther VPN compatibility

The SoftEther VPN client can be installed on Windows, Linux, Mac, Android, iOS, and Windows Mobile.

On macOS, there is no simple way to connect to a SoftEther VPN server with the SoftEther protocol: you may install the SoftEtherVPN GUI outdated app or use the official, but not recommended, SoftEther VPN software app. You may read more about using SoftEther on Mac here.

The SoftEther VPN server runs on Windows, Linux, FreeBSD, Solaris, and Mac OS.

How to set up SoftEther VPN on your devices

The next question to be answered is how to use the SoftEther VPN technology.

If you are the administrator of a server network or want to test SoftEther, you need to install the SoftEther VPN server first. It supports Windows (2000 or later), Linux, macOS, FreeBSD, and Solaris.

Alternatively, you may get started with SoftEther by testing VPN services exposed by the VPN Gate project.

Secondly, you need to connect to the SoftEther server with a VPN client. A SoftEther VPN server can “speak” multiple protocols such as Softether VPN/SSL VPN, OpenVPN, L2TP/IPSec, L2TPv3/IPSec, or SSTP. To connect to such a server, you have the following options:

• Connect using the Softether VPN protocol:
  • Option 1: Set up the official SoftEther client app on your device and connect to the VPN server.
  • Option 2: Use a third-party software app that can use the Softether protocol.
• Connect using OpenVPN:
  • Install an OpenVPN client app and connect to the SoftEther server using the OpenVPN protocol.
• Connect using the L2TP/IPSec protocol:
  • Set up an L2TP connection using the built-in VPN client available on your device.
• Connect using SSTP:
  • For devices that support the SSTP protocol (Windows-based), you may use the built-in VPN client and connect to the SoftEther server.

All these options are further presented below.

Connect using the SoftEther VPN protocol

For connecting to a SoftEther server, it is recommended to use the SoftEther protocol as it is faster and more secure than the other ones.

The most straightforward option for all operating systems (except for macOS) is to download and install the official SoftEther VPN client apps and set up the connection.

For example, on Windows, you may proceed as follows:

1. Go to the SoftEther official download page.
2. Select the component as SoftEther VPN Client.
3. Select the platform (Windows in our case).
4. Choose your CPU depending on your device.
5. Download the latest build.
6. Run the installer and open the SoftEther VPN client.
7. The next step is to create a new Virtual Network Adapter. Click on the Add VPN Connection and, then, the Yes button.
8. Choose the name of the adapter (it has to start with VPN) and click OK. You will have to wait for several seconds, up to a minute, to get the adapter creation completed.
9. Next, click again on the Add VPN Connection and fill in the connection settings (connection name, VPN server IP address or hostname, connection port, user authentication properties). You may choose from Anonymous Authentication, Radius or NT Domain Authentication, Client Certificate Authentication, and Smart Card Authentication for authentication type.
10. To connect to the SoftEther server using the SSL VPN protocol, double-click the name of the VPN connection or right-click and choose Connect.
11. You are now connected.
12. To disconnect, right-click on the name of the active VPN connection and choose Disconnect.

Alternatively, you may import SoftEther config files (.vpn) provided by the server administrator (right-click in the SoftEther VPN Client Manager app and choose Import VPN Connection Setting).

For macOS, the official SoftEther client is not recommended as it does not provide a graphical user interface. However, you may try using the third-party SoftEther GUI app, as explained here.

Connect using OpenVPN

Another option to connect to a Softether VPN server is to use the popular OpenVPN protocol. To do that, you need an OpenVPN configuration file (.ovpn) from the SoftEther server administrator containing the connection properties (server address, username, password, other settings). Download it from your email or the URL sent by the administrator.

The process of setting up the connection consists of downloading the OpenVPN client app (it is preferred that you use the official OpenVPN apps), load the config files, and connect.

For Mac, you may install Tunnelblick or Viscosity, and proceed in a similar manner.

Connect using the L2TP/IPSec protocol

To connect to a SoftEther server using the L2TP/IPSec protocol, you need to create a manual connection using the built-in VPN client available on all popular operating systems (Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS).

Depending on your device you may follow one of the tutorials listed below (you will need to fill in the SoftEther server info, as well as the authentication data):

• How to set up an L2TP connection on Windows
• How to connect on L2TP from macOS
• How to use L2TP on Linux
• How to set up L2TP on Android
• How to create an L2TP connection on iOS.

Connect using the SSTP protocol

Similarly to L2TP/IPSec, a connection to the SoftEther server using the SSTP (Secure Socket Tunneling Protocol) protocol is possible from devices using Windows. Configure the built-in VPN client and select SSTP as the VPN Type.

VPN services that offer access to the SoftEther protocol

Besides installing your own SoftEther VPN server or getting access from a network administrator, there are still options to use the SoftEther protocol.

The first one is to connect to servers from the VPN Gate network. VPN Gate is a project (created by the same university that created SoftEther) that manages a network of SoftEther servers. Volunteers from all over the World provide the servers. That means that (1) you may use them free of charge and (2) you don’t know who is behind a certain server and if your private data is really safe. The VPN Gate architecture seems to be strong and secure, but you may still consider that your data travels unregulated servers.

To get started with VPN Gate, install the SoftEther client app (as described above), choose a VPN server from the VPN Gate server list, and fill in the server’s connection data to the VPN program app.

A safer solution is to subscribe to a commercial VPN service that exposes SoftEther servers. One of these services, and there are not many, is CactusVPN.

CactusVPN offers access to the SoftEther protocol on all its servers. If you are interested, create a CactusVPN account and fill in the provided server credentials into the SoftEther client software.

SoftEther FAQ

Summary

The call for help from people living in countries where censorship is a real problem is currently answered with solutions like the SoftEther VPN protocol.

The censorship problem walks hand in hand with the threats users face while surfing the web unprotected. The awareness of this problem is not at the highest point, as it should be, but we are more than sure that all the internet surfers will realize the dangers they might face if no encryption is used for their connection.

With the SoftEther VPN technology, you can solve two problems at once – browse the Internet freely and 100% safely.

Finally, please subscribe to our newsletter (below), and we promise to keep you updated with news and tutorials on how to use the SoftEther protocol. Plus, you will make a Transylvanian baby-bat very happy.

I like keeping a curious spirit and an open mind. I also think that asking out all of your questions helps you grow as a person, and it keeps you prepared for whatever life has in store for you.

And if there’s a VPN listed in your online cart, is absolutely normal to ask yourself, “is a VPN worth it?”.

So, is a VPN worth it or not? Yes, investing in a VPN (Virtual Private Network) is a smart thing to do, especially in these challenging, pandemic times, when we all tend to spend more and more time online. It is true that we no longer connect to as many public Wi-Fi networks as we used to when we traveled or went for a coffee at a coffee shop or out for a drink (or two) in a bar, but we still need to stay focused on protecting our online privacy and security.

Let’s dig into this subject and find out when a VPN is worth the money and what options you got to be sure you get a smart deal!

Is a VPN worth it? The Transylvanian explanation…

During winter, the cold Transylvanian winds cut through your skin. As bats are tiny, fragile creatures, they need special protection on windy days.

TomBat likes to be prepared, so he started a shopping session looking for the warmest winter jacket he could find.

He added a few items to the list of favorites, but a particular jacket caught his attention—a cool-looking, water-proof, warm, puffed jacket from the ColumBAT brand. The only problem with this jacket is that it was slightly more expensive than the other ones.

So, Tom started to ask himself – is this jacket worth it?

As he could not decide on his own, he decided to look for PonyBat’s opinion, who’s not only a shopaholic but also a fashionista with lots of knowledge on the advantages and disadvantages of each brand.

PonyBat shed light on this shopping dilemma. She quickly informed TomBat that going for the ColumBAT jacked is the right thing to do; as compared to the other jackets, this one has a higher quality, is made from a great fabric, and it has features like BAT-Heat tech to keep the heat locked in, being more like a shield, than a jacket.

Now, if you’re having second thoughts while you shop for VPNs, and if you’re wondering if a VPN justifies the money, you must know that it surely does, especially if your online privacy and security are as valuable as your real-life security and privacy. But, just like PonyBat says, it’s worth the money if it acts like a shield, being able to keep you secure from the invisible threats, and if it comes with advanced features like the Kill Switch that helps you keep all your personal data secured and locked in just for you!

Are your security and privacy important to you?

This is such an easy question to answer, right? Of course, security and privacy are important to us! Of course, we do not want to have burglars break into our house or creepers spying on us late at night.

In these challenging times, we should consider our online security and privacy as valuable as the real-life ones. Due to the whole pandemic situation, we tend to spend more and more time online. We work online, we buy online, we socialize online, we live online. While performing all of these actions, we release a series of important information about ourselves into the online world. We share private work documents, we share credit card details, and even the most twisted online search we might perform while looking for a kinky gift for THAT special person in our lives.

I am not sure if you’re aware, but your ISP (Internet Service Provider) has access to all this information, and it knows everything you do online. Yes, if your ISP wants to know what you’re doing at this very moment, it will know that you’re reading this article.

Besides your sneaky ISP, the mighty hackers are looking for their next victim. The COVID-19 pandemic sparked the trend in cybercrime; therefore, paying special attention to your online privacy and security is crucial, now more than ever.

To avoid having your online identity leaked or your devices damaged, tools like VPN and antiviruses help you stay safe and protected.

Hence, starting from these premises, we can easily conclude that a VPN is worth it, especially in this context.

What does a VPN do?

VPN (Virtual Private Network) is a great weapon to use to fight for your online privacy and security. This advanced technology for enhanced security combines a VPN server with a VPN protocol and an encryption standard to hide your real IP address and encrypt your traffic. Anytime you surf the web with an active VPN connection, the stuff you do online can’t be associated with you, as you will appear to be surfing from a completely different IP address and, as the VPN uses military-grade encryption, none of your data will be visible to your ISP or mighty hackers.

These two majors advantages the VPN has, unblock other VPN power-ups, such as:

• The Internet without restrictions. Since you are provided with a brand-new IP address corresponding to the server VPN location you chose for your connection, you will no longer face internet censorship. Therefore, your favorite games, social media websites, and streaming services like BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime, Netflix, or Youtube, are just a few clicks away. 
• Bypass firewalls. Bypassing BBC iPlayer’s blocking algorithms is easy-peasy-lemon-squeezy compared with bypassing China’s great firewall. A VPN makes this task easy and, with solutions like obfuscation, Shadowsocks or SoftEther, you can enjoy an open Internet in different countries like China and Egypt. 
• Secure your torrenting activities. Just like the VPN, downloading files is legal (aka P2P file sharing), as long as you won’t download copyrighted content. Since the Internet can turn into a dangerous place, while torrenting, besides a powerful antivirus, you will also need a VPN to secure your internet connection.
• Secure your connection while using Tor. Tor may seem a good idea for keeping a low online profile. Yet, the dark web is called dark for some good reasons. That’s why the wise thing to do when accessing onion websites would be to take extra security measures and enable the VPN connection and use solutions like Tor over VPN.
• Avoid having your bandwidth throttling. The whole pandemic situation forced us to spend more time at home. And what does this mean? More time to stay online and watch your favorite movies. As your ISP can see everything you do online, and if it is not pleased with the amount of bandwidth you’re using, it can decide to regulate your internet traffic by throttling your connection. You can avoid speed loss and connection issues by simply enabling a VPN connection before forgetting about yourself while binge-watching Netflix.
• Complete protection for your devices. Like it happened with Dracula, the popularity of VPN technology increased over time, and now users all around the world use it to take their online activities to the next level. Companies couldn’t help but notice the attention VPNs get, so networking hardware vendors are now selling VPN routers. A VPN router is a regular router that supports a VPN connection. There are also advanced solutions like the Vilfo router that focuses on VPN support, providing impressive advanced features like a Kill Switch, and, as far as I know, it will also support Wireguard in the future. With such a router, you can protect all your devices simultaneously, even the ones that normally do not support VPN configuration or VPN apps.

Should I pay for a VPN?

If your online privacy and security are valuable to you, then yes, you should pay for a VPN subscription. There are plenty of free VPN services you can use. Still, my honest advice would be to avoid free VPN services since they may be scams (just like lifetime VPN subscriptions) and may put your security and privacy at risk, as such services may keep connection logs, and their performance is questionable.

Premium VPNs are not that expensive. Actually, their price worth every penny since they put on the table impressive features, and the ultra-secure VPN protocols help you rest assured you surf free and safe from all your devices.

What VPNs worth your money?

The VPN market is pretty generous to internet users looking to secure their connection and enjoy private internet access. There are a handful of premium VPNs that work magic on providing military-grade encryption to your online connection and the ability to change your IP address within seconds.

When it comes to the combo between performance, the number of servers, the VPN protocols selection, and the advanced VPN features, my top picks are:

NordVPN

Without a doubt, NordVPN is one of the most popular VPNs nowadays. Also, I consider it the best VPN for fast, easy, and ultra-secure connections. NordVPN is a temple of encryption, built on reliable and easy-to-use VPN software. The impressive number of servers it provides guarantees that you will be able to connect to servers in the most-wanted locations around the world. Also, NordVPN allows its users advanced Wireguard support via their NordLynx feature.

ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN would be a more expensive option, specially made for internet users aware of the importance of using a quality VPN. ExpressVPN comes with dreamy VPN apps and a smooth VPN connection, powered by its highly performant VPN service infrastructure. Their support for unblocking streaming services is almost irreproachable; therefore, we can easily say that this provider performs in just about every area.

StrongVPN

StrongVPN is an affordable and suitable solution for users who look for a good VPN with a satisfying list of features. Just like NordVPN, StrongVPN provides access to Wireguard, meaning that the security and speed of the connection via this protocol are (almost) guaranteed.

How hard is it to connect to a VPN?

We sometimes tend to forget that time is our most valuable resource, not money. At this point in the discussion, I think it is pretty clear a VPN is worth the money. But how time-consuming is it to use a VPN?

VPN apps are making the whole VPN experience really enjoyable. A VPN client or app is an automated software programmed to enable a VPN connection with just a click or a tap, from your devices, as the apps are compatible with the most popular operating systems (Microsoft Windows, Linux, iOS, Android, macOS).

In the early days, when using a VPN implied a long and (sometimes) difficult manual setup process, only tech-savvy persons were willing to take the time and set up the manual connection, but now, everyone can do it.

With just three taps, you can connect to a VPN server from your mobile phone (no matter if it is an Apple device with iOS or a phone using Android). And to prove you so, I used NordVPN from my iPhone for a quick demonstration.

How to know you’re making the right decision?

First of all, using a VPN is the right decision. There are plenty of options available for you.

A great VPN is more than just a tool to protect your online activities. With the help of this technology, you can forget about bandwidth throttling or internet censorship.

Most popular VPN services go the extra mile for their customers and come to meet even the most stringent criteria in terms of advanced features, security options, and VPN performance.

By throwing an eye on providers’ websites, you may find their VPN price range out of your budget. You must know that during the most popular sales periods and throughout the year, VPN companies spoil their actual and potential customers with generous discounts and deals. All you need to do to end up getting a great deal is to keep an eye on the VPN provider of your choice. Another smart thing to do would be to subscribe to their newsletter, as they announce the sales campaigns via e-mail.

You know what? Since we’re talking about subscribing to newsletters, I think you should subscribe to my newsletter, too, by using the form below. In this way, you will always be up to date with the latest industry news, and you’ll be the first one to know what other routers and services I’ve tested. Trust me, just like getting a VPN, subscribing to our newsletter is worth it!

I like to drag myself into thinking that shopping is cheaper than a psychiatrist. This theory may prove to be right, but only if you buy smart. There’s a new trend on the VPN market for providers to include in their subscription plans the option to get a lifetime VPN. Going for a long-term subscription may seem smart at first, but after digging into the subject, you can end up realizing that it is not such a brilliant idea.

So, should you look for a lifetime VPN or go for a regular VPN subscription? I got your answer. But before opening the Pandora Box, let’s start with the Transylvanian explanation of why lifetime subscriptions aren’t that great.

The Transylvanian explanation of a lifetime VPN subscription.

Things work great between TomBat and PonyBat. They continue to spoil each other in the sweetest ways possible. And when there’s true love, you never get bored of making your better half feel special.

One night, before going to sleep, TomBat decided to surf the web looking for a gift that helps him speak his mind out, which says – I feel happiness at the thought of loving you for a lifetime.

Just a few minutes after visiting the most popular e-commerce websites on Batgle (Google for bats), he found the perfect gift – a beautiful red cryogenic rose.

Without wasting any more time, he added the gift to the cart, proceeded with the payment, and 48 hours later, the BatCourier delivered the package at his doorstep.

You should have seen PonyBat’s smile when she received such a special natural rose that maintains its original form for ages.

Just as you can buy a preserved rose that lasts a lifetime, you can opt to get a lifetime VPN subscription. But you know what?! The dust will settle on your beautiful rose, and you will get bored with seeing it laying on your shelf. And so it will happen to your VPN. Using the same service for a long time is not that fun, and no one can guarantee you that your provider will keep pace with the latest trends in the VPN industry. So, the question is: should you opt for a lifetime VPN subscription?

What is a lifetime VPN subscription?

After a simple search for the best VPN (Virtual Private Network) on Google, you will find many providers names repeating on the most popular VPN-reviews websites. By simply visiting their websites, you will learn they provide long-term subscription consisting of a 1-year plan, 2-year plan, and, sometimes, a 3-year plan. The question remains, what is a lifetime VPN then?

A lifetime VPN is a subscription that you can get in exchange for a one-time fee, which, theoretically, covers your VPN usage for life. This may sound like a deal you don’t want to miss. But you know what? Deals work best when each side gets something he/she wants from the other. One thing is for sure. The VPN provider will get your money, but will you get the performant Virtual Private Network you desire? Believe me, when I tell you, you will not!

What it implies to run a VPN business?

Sometimes, I like to ask awkward questions, just like this one. Yet, I feel that it would be useful for you to understand the main costs a VPN business implies and why lifetime VPN subscriptions can be just a big scheme.

• Salaries. Since robots have not replaced us yet, running a business in the VPN industry implies having employees. From system admins, sales, and marketing personnel to customer support, all these people need to be paid every month, and salaries generate costs.
• Technical infrastructure. Now that we have the people to work for your VPN company, you need to invest a consistent amount of money in your VPN server locations infrastructure, hardware, and software solutions, so your service can perform at the highest level required by the industry.
• Advertising. You have a tech solution and an awesome team, but no one knows about you. Advertising your VPN in the current market situation is super expensive. CPC on Google and social media are costly, and affiliate commissions generate not only visitors but some costs too.
• Operational costs. In this category, we include the rent, energy costs, training, and all the other small things that make a huge difference and without which the business can not operate.

If we sum all these amounts up, we can easily conclude that having a VPN implies serious costs, resources, and continuous development. So, do you think that a VPN provider can stick to providing a cutting-edge VPN relying only on one-time payments? Will this strategy guarantee that the monthly income will cover up all the above-mentioned costs? My answer would be NO.

4 things that a lifetime VPN subscription cannot guarantee.

Before rushing adding to cart the deal for a lifetime (see what I did here?), think about the costs a VPN implies, which are listed above, and rememorize the reasons why a lifetime VPN is not a good idea, which are listed below:

• The performance of the lifetime VPN subscription is not guaranteed. Constantly updating your technologies to keep pace with the latest trends on the market requests resources. Maybe the list of VPN servers included in your lifetime plan satisfies you at the moment, but think about the future. In case your provider will decide to stop developing their service, will those regular VPN servers be enough for you, or will you need more torrenting or gaming servers for complete online privacy, anonymity, and a brand-new IP address? Can you be sure that the VPN protocols list is constantly updated? Will you end-up using PPTP for the rest of your lifetime subscription, or will you be able to enjoy state-of-the-art protocols like OpenVPN or, better, WireGuard, as soon as is launched on the market? What about the advanced VPN features? Features like obfuscation, split tunneling, KillSwitch, Tor over VPN, or Shadowsocks are cool in 2020, but what will be the trend in 2025? Let’s not forget about the VPN apps that are also important for all VPN users!
• Can you rest assure your provider won’t shut down the business in a few years? I am sorry to break it to you but, a lifetime, in Internet years, is somewhere around five years. For your online security, this may be a positive thing, as you will be forced to look for other alternatives, so you will have the chance to get a performant VPN service adapted to your updated online needs.
• Logging policy. The no-logs policy most top providers mention on their website is important. Such a no-logging policy guarantees that your provider is not spying on your online activities, and it keeps no record of the things you do online. Based on this statement, you can put your trust in your provider with everything you do online. To increase its profit margin, a provider who keps logs may decide to sell parts of information about their users to third parties interested in their data, for marketing purposes. Also, there’s the possibility for your service to be acquired by another provider that couldn’t care less about your privacy, zero-log policy, or constant service development.
• The VPN service can be a scam. Last but not least, research before falling into the trap of lifetime VPN subscriptions. What VPN owner can decide to start providing lifelong subscriptions knowing that its profit margin can drop so much that it won’t be able to support the business in a few years or even months? Maybe one who wants to strike it rich and leave with the money? There are many scams online, so make sure to act smart and filter all the information until you’re sure you won’t be part of a scheme. Good luck!

What VPN services provide lifetime VPN subscriptions?

As you can conclude, I can’t be impartial. I would never go for a lifelong VPN subscription. However, I did some research for you and checked the VPN services which provide lifelong subscriptions.

KeepSolid VPN Unlimited may be a solution, but don’t conclude, I recommend them! It seems that they provide a zero-log policy, their service is suitable to unblock online streaming services (like Netflix, Hulu, or BBC iPlayer), and they provide customer support, plus a money-back guarantee policy. Regarding the VPN software, KeepSolid VPN Unlimited provides, in their current list, you can find applications for macOS, Windows, Linux, Android, iOS, Windows Phone, and Chrome, Opera, and Firefox browsers extensions as well.

Alternatives to lifetime VPNs.

If you’re not up to paying for a monthly recurring subscription and look for a long-term commitment, there are some alternatives for you to consider.

During special sales occasions like Black Friday or Cyber Monday, providers spoil their old and new customers with sweet VPN offers. From generous discounts to prolonged subscriptions during their sales campaign, you can get a pretty good VPN deal.

Moreover, top VPN service providers are competing for customers’ attention, trying to come up not only with military-grade encryption, VPN features, and top-notch apps but also with impressive deals and long-term subscriptions.

My recommendations are VPN service providers like NordVPN, CyberGhost, and ExpressVPN, who indulge the customers not only with high-performant VPN services, constant updates, and also with deals. Providers like the ones I just mentioned have special discounts and bundles not only during popular sales periods but also throughout the year. So, checking their website from time to time helps you find a smart deal you can’t refuse.

Still interested in a lifetime VPN subscription?

If you found a deal for a lifetime VPN plan that you can’t refuse, here your VPN essential checklist:

• Check the VPN provider. Activate your suspicious mood, do a background check for your provider, and make sure the VPN service is trustworthy. Don’t forget to check the no-logs policy I keep on talking about.  If you cannot find anything related to your future provider, ask a girl to help you out. Is it said that girls do better research than the FBI, so I am sure one girl will be able to find out a thing or two about the VPN you’re about to buy.
• VPN apps. Being able to use your VPN anywhere and anytime is mandatory since the main purpose of a VPN is to help you secure all your browsing data. Therefore, the VPN apps for the most popular OSs are something to look after. Don’t forget that using a VPN on your mobile devices (iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Android smartphones) is highly recommended, as many online threats hide behind unprotected public Wi-Fi networks.
• VPN features. The latest VPN protocols allow you to surf fast and secure, while the most advanced VPN features like Kill Switch grant you protection if your VPN fails to perform. In conclusion, the more protocols and features you will be able to enjoy, the better, as these features worth every penny.
• Go for a free trial. There are a handful of VPN services providing a free trial. Having the opportunity to test a service all by yourself and drawing your conclusions is really important as a VPN’s performance, and many factors influence the connection speeds. So, a VPN that works great, in my case, could be a total disappointment for you. Test before you rest assured that you made the right decision!
• Customer support. Blog articles are helpful, and tutorials on how to set up VPN on routers are great, but being able to chat with an expert about your VPN-related problem is a lifesaver. Helpful and friendly customer support is something even tech-savvy needs!

Not all deals are worth buying!

Some VPN providers think like The Godfather and say “I’ll make him an offer he can’t refuse”. When something sounds too good to be true, then it’s time for you to be responsible.

Lifetime VPN subscriptions are, indeed, a deal you don’t want to miss. Yet, you have to analyze the situation and be aware of the risks a lifelong subscription implies. You can end up paying a few hundred dollars for a subscription that does not pay off or, even worse, the provider might close the business in a year or two, leaving you high and dry.

There are many great alternatives for you to consider before subscribing to the first VPN you find. Top VPN providers allow their customers to get a long-term subscription at a very reasonable price. Sales occasions like Black Friday, Cyber Monday, or holiday deals bring along limited time offers, discounted prices for the most-wanted VPN services. Be on the lookout and start buying smart!

Another smart thing to do is to subscribe to our newsletter. In this way, you’ll make sure you’re always up to date with the latest tech news!

PPTP is one of the oldest VPN protocols and the foundation for many VPN connections. However, due to security concerns, PPTP is no longer recommended for encrypting VPN tunnels.

This article explains what PPTP is, how this VPN protocol works, how to set it up on your devices, and how it compares with other VPN protocols. We will also look at some of the advantages and disadvantages of the PPTP protocol.

What is PPTP? The Transylvanian story.

To escape the “nah” mood that kept him inside the castle for months, Vlad decided it was the right moment to buy himself a new car: 

– Hey, TomBat, my dear bat pet, let’s go shopping! I will add some new wheels to my collection.
– Finally! You get yourself a bicycle! You really need to get some exercise these days.
– Funny, but no!
– Ok, I got it. But, can it be a Batmobile? Pretty please …
– Well … ok … Where can we found one? asked Vlad, hoping for no answer.
– Worry no more!, swiftly answered TomBat. I’ll take you to my dealer!

After a short drive with Vlad’s Dacia (the Romanian national car), they entered a custom car shop … and there was the Batmobile. Exactly how it should have been.

The dealer didn’t spare a moment to praise the car and its speed. But, Vlad had to ask:

– How old is this beauty?
– She is still young, in her early twenties...
– Gosh, is she safe? Comparing to modern cars?
– Hmmm, you know … it’s not the safest car you could get, but it is very fast!

Finally, after some serious bargaining, Vlad bought the Batmobile. Yet, he only drives it occasionally, on short distances and during weekends.

To get to our article’s point: similarly to the Batmobile, the PPTP protocol is fast but not the most secure. You should use it cautiously!

What is PPTP?

Introduced in July 1999, the Point to Point Tunneling Protocol (PPTP) is a Virtual Private Network protocol that improved the previous PPP standard, which did not include the tunneling feature.

PPTP comprises of a set of rules that are used to ensure the communication process between a VPN client and a VPN server.

Although it was originally developed as a protocol targeted at being used in Windows operating systems, it fast became widespread. The PPTP VPN protocol is now available on a wide variety of different platforms and systems.

How does PPTP work?

PPTP was developed on the foundation of PPP (the Point-to-Point Protocol), and as such, it is based on its encryption and authentication framework. Working similarly to all tunneling technologies, data packets are encapsulated by PPTP, and it creates a tunnel for the data that flows across IP networks. 

The technical specification for PPTP is contained in Internet RFC 2637, and it is based on a client-server design that runs at the OSI model’s Layer 2.

PPTP enables two different types of information flow once a VPN tunnel has been established: 

• Data packets flow from and to a VPN client to and from the VPN server through the tunnel. PPTP uses a GRE (Generic Routing Encapsulation) tunnel for encapsulation.
• Control messages are used to manage and eventually tear down the VPN connection. Control messages are passed on TCP port 1723 directly between a VPN server and a client.

A server administrator normally provides the PPTP VPN server’s address information to the individuals that are authorized to use the VPN. Connection strings can be provided either as an IP address or as a server name.

PPTP compatibility

As one of the oldest VPN protocols, PPTP was adopted on all major operating systems (including Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Linux) and various devices (routers, SmartTVs, game consoles).

However, due to the security concerns discussed below, Apple removed support for PPTP starting with iOS 10 and macOS Sierra.

PPTP can still be configured and used on Microsoft Windows (all versions), Android, and Linux, as well as on various types of routers and devices.

It is expected that more and more OSes and device producers move to more modern and safer VPN protocols in the future.

Advantages and disadvantages of PPTP

Before setting up a PPTP VPN, you should give proper attention to this VPN protocol’s pros and cons.

Advantages of using PPTP

PPTP has some important benefits:

• Ease of configuration: Any individual with little or some knowledge can set up a PPTP protocol relatively easily.
• Speed: PPTP offers a breakneck speed when compared with other similar protocols.
• Compatibility: The protocol is by default compatible with Windows-based systems, and it is also available for use on many other popular platforms.

Disadvantages of using PPTP

Although PPTP is fast and easy to configure, it also has some fundamental drawbacks.

• Security: The PPTP protocol is, unfortunately, not ideal for businesses (who can also focus on a VPN concentrator solution) and users that have the requirement of keeping their data secure.
• Availability: Due to security issues, PPTP is no longer available on Apple devices (Mac, iPhone, iPad).
• Reliability: When PPTP is used on a connection that is not stable, it does have several performance issues. Additionally, PPTP can be easily blocked by firewalls, even by ISPs (Internet Service Providers).
• Encryption: PPTP uses RC4 and RSA algorithms that employ 128-bit encryption, less than the encryption offered by other VPN protocols (e.g., OpenVPN, WireGuard).
• Support: PPTP does not support Perfect Forward Secrecy.

How to set up PPTP on (some of) your devices

The simplest way to use PPTP on your device is to manually set up a connection. Additionally, if the protocol is what you are looking for and you are not in need of connecting to a specific PPTP server, you may use a VPN client offered by a VPN provider.

Remember that Apple has removed PPTP from iOS and macOS. However, there are still options to set up PPTP on macOS.

A reliable option is to set PPTP on your router and connect to the router with the devices you want to benefit from the VPN secure tunnel.

Manual PPTP setup

For manual setup, you need to know the server address (name or IP address) and the username/password for authentication. You may either get them from a VPN service provider or the VPN network administrator.

The manual PPTP setup consists of creating a VPN connection on your operating system of choice and filling in the connection settings:

• How to manually set up PPTP on Windows
• How to set up PPTP on Android
• How to use PPTP on Linux

On macOS, even though there are no solution to manually initiate a PPTP connection, workarounds are still available.

Use VPN client apps

As PPTP has security flaws, fewer and fewer VPN providers use it in their own apps. However, depending on the operating system, VPN software using PPTP are still available.

We recommend two good VPN services that may help you get a PPTP VPN tunnel on Windows: PureVPN and HideIPVPN. To get started, subscribe to the service, install the app, and select the PPTP protocol.

On macOS, you may install VPNTracker, but you need to have access to the PPTP server connection credentials.

Test your PPTP VPN connection

Every time you connect, you should check the VPN connection. It would be best if you made sure the VPN tunnel was properly initiated. The most obvious test is to load an IP checker website and check your visible IP address. It should show the IP and location of the PPTP server.

PPTP security issues

Although PPTP was considered secure when it was originally released, that is unfortunately no longer the case. PPTP is outdated compared to modern standards being used today, and using the PPTP protocol for securing online data is extremely risky. 

Below is a short overview of the various PPTP security issues you should be aware of:

• The authentication methods used by PPTP (MS-CHAP Version 1 and MS-CHAP Version 2) are vulnerable. There are tools available to extract NT Password hashes from exchanges using MS-CHAP Version 1. MS-CHAP Version 2 is seemingly vulnerable to dictionary attacks, and MS-CHAP Version 2 D4 passphrases can, in fact, be hacked in about 23 hours.
• Since the encryption employed by PPTP, MPPE (Microsoft Point-to-Point Encryption), uses an RC4 stream cipher, hackers can employ bit-flipping attacks to take advantage of the ciphertext’s vulnerability due to there not being any authenticated in the ciphertext stream.
• Documents prove that the NSA has cracked the PPTP traffic.

As all of the security issues mentioned above are fairly well-known by now, this will make PPTP traffic a straightforward target for any hacker due to it being so vulnerable to malicious attacks.

Tips to get the most from PPTP

If you decide to use PPTP despite its drawbacks make sure that:

• Only use PPTP when no sensitive data is involved, meaning that you should not enter your credit card info or share private files while connected to the VPN.
• You have access to an alternative protocol safer than PPTP (OpenVPN, WireGuard) if you need to increase the communication channel’s security.
• Choose a trustful VPN provider.

PPTP alternative protocols

There are a handful of VPN protocols that are available for creating secure tunnels. Now that you know what is PPTP protocol, you may be curious if there are better alternatives.

Based on security, connection speeds, and compatibility, here are several good examples of VPN protocols you can try.

OpenVPN

OpenVPN is considered the de-facto standard of VPN protocols. It is open-source, offers excellent encryption options, good performance, and it is preferred by most of the VPN providers. You may use OpenVPN on UDP for faster connections.

WireGuard

WireGuard is seen as the future of VPN protocols due to its simplicity and speed (it seems to be faster than OpenVPN). It is secure, easy to use, and open-source.

L2TP/IPSec (Layer 2 Tunneling Protocol)

L2TP/IPSec is another popular VPN protocol supported by all operating systems and by the majority of VPN providers. With acceptable speed and great encryption, L2TP is a good option to try.

SSTP (Secure Socket
Tunneling Protocol)

SSTP, a protocol that is solely compatible with Windows devices, is considered one of the most secure VPN protocols. SSTP uses SSL 3.0, and it offers 256-bit encryption for VPN connections. It as fast as OpenVPN.

IKEv2

IKEv2 is another stable VPN protocol that is significantly safer than PPTP (it uses the AES-256 cipher). However, IKEv2/IPSec is harder to set up than PPTP.

Summary

The PPTP protocol has been around for 25 years, and most VPN providers have offered access to it. The PPTP encryption and authentication framework work similarly to all tunneling technologies by encapsulating data packets to create a tunnel for the data that flows across IP networks. 

Although it is speedy, easy to configure, and available for use on major operating systems (Windows, Android, Linux), its security is lacking in various areas. This makes it extremely risky to use in applications where there are requirements for keeping data secure.

Finally, please subscribe to our newsletter (below), and we promise to keep you updated with news and tutorials on how to use the PPTP protocol. Plus, you will make a Transylvanian baby-bat very happy.