What type of VPN Should I Use?

            

VPNs are a vital tool in today’s online world for those who want to stay anonymous and secure. Some of us just choose to use a VPN because we hear it offers that extra layer of security online but there are those who want to know more about a VPN and the protocols it implements.  This article is written with the aim of giving you that insight into VPN protocols.

VPN Protocols

A VPN protocol is the spine of a VPN. Without it, a VPN wouldn’t be a VPN. It is what enables a VPN to encrypt and transmit data back and forth safely and securely in the shortest time possible. There are several protocols out there with some notable ones being PPTP, L2TP/IPSec, SSTP, OpenVPN, and IKEv2. All have their pros and cons and each protocol has specific situations where it may be better suited to be used.

OpenVPN is the most recommended VPN protocol in use. Most VPNs use it as their IKEv2 is mostly used on smartphones. It has a feature that allows it to automatically reconnect just in case you lose your connection to the internet. This can happen often when in places with limited network coverage. This protocol has the massive advantage of speed but it is complex to setup and is available on very few platforms.

L2TP/IPSec is the next best option instead of OpenVPN. It doesn't really have any stand-out features that it excels in but is instead average all round. It’s a good protocol to use if you’re not doing anything that is sensitive.

SSTP is specially made for the Windows platform. It's already part of the OS and very easy to use. Microsoft offers great support for it given that they wholly own it. SSTP is however very difficult to setup on other platforms.

PPTP is one of the oldest protocols out there. It is fast but offers poor security and it’s one of the protocols that you should avoid if possible.

Protocol Features

OpenVPN

OpenVPN is one of the newer protocols out there and is so reliable it is labeled as the “gold standard” protocol. On most platforms, it does not have native support but it is still very popular, especially with third-party services. It also supports many different algorithms providing it with a very high level of security. It’s one of the fastest protocols on the market and is relatively easy to setup.

    

IKEv2 (Internet Key Exchange v2)

This protocol was developed by Cisco and Microsoft together. It’s quite stable and its auto-reconnection feature coupled with its support for several algorithms make it secure. It is also fast, much quicker than SSTP, PPTP, and L2TP. Though there are open source versions available, this protocol is Microsoft’s proprietary technology. Other than blackberry devices, support for other platforms is limited.

L2TP (Layer 2 Tunneling Protocol)

L2TP is based on Microsoft’s PPTP and Cisco’s L2F. It doesn’t have any security on its own which is why it is usually used together with IPSec. It is inferior to OpenVPN.  It’s available on most VPN-compatible devices and platforms. There are concerns that the NSA has already cracked this protocol.

SSTP (Secure Socket Tunneling Protocol)

This is another protocol from Microsoft. It first came out on Windows Vista service pack 1. It is built into Windows and isn’t available on other platforms. It has the ability to easily bypass firewalls. Although it is fast and safe to an extent. There are concerns that it may have backdoors. 

PPTP (Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol)

PPTP was created to work on the Windows platform. It was the first of its kind and is supported by almost all devices that use VPNs. It has low encryption which makes it fast but with weak security. It is not used much and it is recommended to use other protocols like L2TP/IPSec or SSTP instead.

Conclusion

When engaging in online activities or work that is not very sensitive in nature, you can use protocols like L2TP/IPSec, IKEv2, and OpenVPN. On the Windows platform, SSTP would be your best bet although there are concerns it has potential vulnerabilities that could be exploited. L2TP and IKEv2 also carry similar concerns. They are all Microsoft protocols and its history with backdoors and vulnerabilities is not reassuring at all. PPTP is a definite NO if you are looking for privacy and security.

The only protocol that ticks all the boxes is OpenVPN. It is secure and kept up to date. It's also available on several platforms and is reliable and fast. An all-round protocol that is used by most VPN service providers on the market.

      

How do I choose a VPN type?

There are a few factors that you need to consider when choosing a VPN.

• What you plan to use it for and how sensitive it is.
• Its security and encryption.
• How fast it is.
• The platforms or devices you want to use it on.

Keeping that in mind you would go ahead and choose your preferred VPN protocol. Each protocol has its pros and cons and you have to decide which you want to use depending on the situation. OpenVPN is however the most recommended and all-round VPN protocol on the market.

Which is better OpenVPN or IKEv2?

IKEv2 which is an acronym for Internet Key Exchange version two is much faster and doesn't require as many computing resources as OpenVPN. IKEv2 is better suited to smartphones because it has an automatic reconnection feature which is very useful in places with poor connection or network.

OpenVPN is simply more balanced. It has a good balance between speed, security, and reliability which makes it one of the most used protocols on the market.

What type of VPN is the most secure?

OpenVPN is number one when it comes to security. SoftEther comes in a close second. OpenVPN has stood the test of time and gets regular updates so it is protected against vulnerabilities.

Is Nord A good VPN?

NordVPN is one of the best VPNs on the market today. It offers everything from speed, security, great features and even comes with a no-logs policy.