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OpenVPN vs. PPTP vs. L2TP vs. Others (Comparison)

OpenVPN vs. PPTP vs. L2TP vs. Others (Comparison)

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A VPN will help you protect your privacy and secure your data whenever you use the Internet. But, in addition to choosing the best VPN, you will also need to choose the best VPN protocol for your needs.

The VPN protocol is how your VPN will secure the data transmission. There are many different protocols that depend on the operating system, platform, performance, and more.

Below we explore the most popular VPN protocols, so you can decide which one is best for you.

Here’s a quick breakdown of today’s top seven VPN protocols:

1. OpenVPN – Recommended, Most Popular

OpenVPN is the VPN protocol you want to use. It is the most recommended option by today’s leading VPN providers. Kind of a no-brainer. It is one of the newer VPN protocols, but its flexibility and security have made it one of the most popular VPN protocols.

The following VPNs use OpenVPN as the default protocol:

It is based on open source technologies such as the OpenSSL Cryptographic Library and the SSL V3/TLS V1 protocols. The open-source nature of OpenVPN means that the technology is maintained, updated, and vetted by the community of supporters.

When the traffic passes through an OpenVPN connection, it is difficult to distinguish an HTTPS connection over an SSL. The ability to hide in plain sight makes it less vulnerable to penetration, and more difficult to prevent.

In addition, it can run on any port, using both UDP and TCP protocols, so getting around firewalls will not be a problem. However, if you are looking for speed, then using a UDP port will be the most efficient.

In terms of security, it has a variety of methods and protocols such as OpenSLL authentication, HMAC, and shared keys. To raise the security standards even further, it is usually combined with AES encryption. Other VPN protocols have been subject to the NSA and other hacking, but so far, OpenVPN has managed to stay in the clear.

Additional cryptographic algorithms it supports are:

  • 3DES
  • AES
  • camellia
  • puffer fish
  • Cast – 128

AES encryption is recommended if security is your main concern. This is essentially the “gold standard”, and it has no currently known weaknesses. The 128-bit block size also gives it powerful capabilities to handle large files, without reducing performance.

However, OpenVPN is not perfect:

You will still need to install a third party app to use this type of connection. It is still not supported by any platforms, but most third-party software providers are supported, such as Android and iOS.

Setting up OpenVPN on your own can be a bit tricky. Especially when compared to PPTP or L2TP. However, most VPN clients are able to offer a custom setup, which gets you around any configuration difficulties.

If you want to set up OpenVPN on your own, a high level of configuration may be inconvenient because you will be less secure if it is set up the wrong way.

Additionally, you can even use OpenVPN to connect via your Apple iOS mobile device. Say hello to an encrypted and private mobile connection.

OpenVPN Pros:

  • The protocol can bypass most firewalls
  • It is open source and checked by third parties
  • It has a very high level of security
  • Works with multiple encryption methods
  • It can be configured and customized to your liking
  • It can bypass firewalls
  • It supports a variety of encrypted algorithms

OpenVPN Cons:

  • The setup process can be technical
  • Depends on third-party software to work
  • Desktop support and functionality are strong, but the mobile phone is not there

2. PPTP

Think about web security standards in 1995. Did they really exist? Well, that was when PPTP became the VPN protocol. It was developed by a consortium founded by Microsoft and was the standard for VPN connections in the dial-up days.

PPTP, also known as Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol, is over 20 years old now. Even though it is outdated, it is still the standard for in-house commercial VPNs. It’s a popular choice since it’s already installed on most devices and platforms, it’s easy to set up, efficient, and no additional software is needed. To create a secure connection, all you need is a username, password, and a server address.

For example, office buildings with old infrastructure, which need to secure data internally, can use this connection. Or users who are running an older Windows operating system. If it’s all you have, it’s better than nothing.

When it was first released with Windows 95, there were a number of security vulnerabilities that were exploited. Today, its encryption protocols have been upgraded to 128-bit key encryption, which isn’t bad, but if security is a concern, you can do better. Even Microsoft recommends users looking for higher security standards to use SSTP or L2TP.

However, this low level of encryption helps make it one of the fastest VPN protocols.

It is also known to be easy to decrypt and hack by the NSA and other intelligence agencies. This decryption was also done at the time when security experts considered PPTP to be secure.

PPTP is usually only used today due to its high performance and stability. Consider accessing geo-restricted content or accessing Netflix. Overall, it is an old and outdated VPN protocol, but it still serves a small purpose for users who are not concerned with security.

Pros of PPTP:

  • It’s so fast
  • It’s already built into most platforms
  • Easy to configure and setup

PPTP Cons:

  • Has Vulnerabilities (One of the Least Secure VPN Protocols)
  • It has been hacked by the National Security Agency
  • It can be blocked by firewalls

3. L2TP/IPsec

L2TP is a VPN protocol that offers no encryption or protection of the traffic passing through the connection. For this reason, it is usually associated with IPSec, which is an encryption protocol.

It is an extension of the PPTP protocol and uses a process called double encapsulation (which led to its initial rise in popularity). The first encapsulation establishes a PPP connection, while the second contains IPSec encryption.

It supports AES-256 encryption algorithms, which are among the most secure encryption algorithms. But, the stronger the encryption protocols you use, the slower your performance.

This protocol is integrated into most desktop and mobile operating systems, which makes it easy to implement. But, it can only use UDP port 500 for communication, which makes it very easy to be blocked by NAT firewalls. Therefore, additional configuration is needed if this is to be used behind a firewall.

It has an advantage in that this mode of communication prevents access to data between sender and receiver. Therefore, this can help prevent any attempts to hack the middle man.

Secure IPSec encryption. However, both Edward Snowden and John Gilmore, a founding member of the EFF, point out that the protocol was deliberately weakened by the NSA.

It’s a slower connection because the traffic must first be converted to the L2TP form, and you have an extra layer of encryption on top of that. It’s not as efficient as OpenVPN, but it’s easy to set up.

L2TP/IPsec Pros:

  • It is available on almost all devices and operating systems
  • Easy setup
  • It has high (but weak) security levels.
  • It supports multithreading to improve performance

L2TP/IPsec Cons:

  • It can be blocked by firewalls
  • The NSA may have weakened the protocol, making it less secure
  • It does not have the fastest speeds, due to double packaging

4. SoftEther

SoftEther is an open source, multi-protocol VPN software. What started as an academic project at the University of Tsukuba has grown into a VPN technology used by millions of people around the world.

The biggest reason for its vast growth is that it’s free, and works across Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, FreeBSD, and Solaris. Not only because it supports several different protocols, such as OpenVPN, EtherIP, SSTP, L2TP/IPSec, and more.

Basically, you can set it up to run on the operating system of your choice and use any VPN protocol you want. This unparalleled flexibility and support across multiple platforms has led to its insane growth.

It uses 256-bit AES encryption, which is one of the most secure forms of encryption available.

With SoftEther, you get a flexible and fast VPN, using the latest encryption protocols. It’s newer, so it doesn’t have the same legacy as OpenVPN, but it’s an upcoming alternative. It provides you with a great combination of performance and security.

SoftEther Pros:

  • It supports many desktop and mobile operating systems
  • It is completely open source
  • It can bypass most firewalls
  • It’s fast but doesn’t compromise on security

SoftEther Cons:

  • It’s relatively new
  • It does not have native OS support
  • A lot of current VPNs don’t offer it yet

5. WireGuard

WireGuard is an innovative and advanced VPN protocol developed to improve performance. The implementation is small, which makes it a more lightweight project in terms of code base. By having a simpler database, it is easier for developers to integrate.

The goal of the project is to create an alternative to IPSec, one that is lighter, faster and more agile. It was originally released on Linux, but is on its way to cross-platform compatibility and can be deployed across a variety of different distros.

WireGuard shines in its simplicity.

It only supports one cipher suite, which makes the design simple and leads to fewer security vulnerabilities. The algorithm selection is also incredibly simple, which helps reduce any security bugs, now and in the future.

However, keep in mind that WireGuard is not yet complete. It’s still a work in progress and the team is working towards a stable release.

Early evidence indicates that it is a fast and effective VPN protocol for widespread use in the future. If you want to publish it, keep in mind that there may be some vulnerabilities, and it will not be as secure as the other stable VPN protocols featured in this list.

WireGuard features:

  • It is simple and lightweight
  • It’s fast and safe
  • Takes a simplified approach to the VPN protocol
  • It has the potential to become the VPN of the future

WireGuard Cons:

  • It does not have a stable version
  • Only technical Linux users can effectively implement
  • It is not as flexible as other VPN protocols

6. SSTP

SSTP was developed by Microsoft and introduced with the release of Windows Vista. It is still considered only Windows although there is support for other operating systems. Since it is built into Windows, it is a very stable VPN protocol.

There is support for other systems, such as Linux, SEIL, and RouterOS, but adoption is not widespread.

It’s usually configured with AES encryption, so it’s incredibly secure and a much better option than PPTP. It also uses an SSL v3 connection (similar to OpenVPN), which will help prevent any NAT firewall and blocking issues.

SSTP uses an authentication method similar to an SSL/TLS connection. In order to transmit any data or traffic, both ends of the connection must be authenticated using a secret key. This helps create an incredibly secure connection.

However, SSTP is still wholly owned and maintained by Microsoft. Although no security vulnerabilities have been reported, they have a history of cooperating with the National Security Agency. Therefore, this has not been proven, but there is speculation that there may be built-in back doors.

Overall, it offers a connection similar to OpenVPN but is more Windows-oriented. It has better security than L2TP connection and is better than PPTP.

SSTP Pros:

  • It can bypass most firewalls
  • It has a high level of security
  • Built in Windows with support from Microsoft
  • It supports a wide range of encrypted algorithms
  • It’s easy to use

SSTP Cons:

  • It is wholly owned and maintained by Microsoft Corporation
  • He. She…

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