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You’ve probably heard this: “you need to use a VPN to protect your privacy.” Now, you’re thinking: “Okay, but how does a VPN actually work?”
That’s understandable. While everyone suggests using one, not many take the time to explain some of the core VPN technologies. In this article, we’re going to explain what VPN protocols are, their differences, and what you should look out for.
What Is a VPN?
Before we look at specific VPN protocols, let’s quickly remind ourselves what a VPN isWhat Is a VPN Connection and How Does It Work?What Is a VPN Connection and How Does It Work?Thinking about using a VPN, but don't know what it means, or how a VPN works? Here's everything you need to know,Read More.
At its most basic, a VPN allows you to access the public internet using a private connection. When you click a link on the internet, your request passes to the correct server, usually returning the correct content. Your data essentially flows, unhindered, from A to B, and a website or service can see your IP address, among other identifying data.
When you use a VPN, all of your requests are first routed through a private server, owned by the VPN provider. Your request heads from A through C to B. You can still access all the data previously available to you (and more, in some cases). But the website or service only has the data of the VPN provider: their IP address, and so on.
There are many uses for a VPN11 Reasons Why You Need a VPN and What It Is11 Reasons Why You Need a VPN and What It IsVirtual private networks can protect your privacy. We explain what exactly they do and why you should use a VPN.Read More, including protecting your data and identity, avoiding repressive censorship, and encrypting your communications. See our introduction to using a VPNHow to Use a VPN for Online Identity ProtectionHow to Use a VPN for Online Identity ProtectionThinking about using a VPN but not sure where to start? Here's what you need to know about using a VPN to protect yourself online.Read More to get started yourself. You can even set up a VPN on your routerHow to Set Up a VPN on Your RouterHow to Set Up a VPN on Your RouterVPNs are great for online privacy but running a VPN on every device is a pain. Save time and install a VPN on your router instead.Read More.
What Are VPN Protocols?
A VPN protocol determines exactly how your data routes between your computer and the VPN server. Protocols have different specifications, offering benefits to users in a range of circumstances. For instance, some prioritize speed, while others focus on privacy and security.
Let’s take a look at the most common VPN protocols.
1. OpenVPN
OpenVPN is an open source VPN protocol. This means users can scrutinize its source code for vulnerabilities, or use it in other projects. OpenVPN has become one of the most important VPN protocols. As well as being open source, OpenVPN is also one of the most secure protocols. OpenVPN allows users to protect their data using essentially unbreakable AES-256 bit key encryption (amongst others), with 2048-bit RSA authentication, and a 160-bit SHA1 hash algorithm.
In addition to providing strong encryption, OpenVPN is also available to almost every platform: Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, routers, and more. Even Windows Phone and Blackberry can utilize it, meaning you can set up a VPN on all your devicesHow to Set Up a VPN Anywhere: 8 SolutionsHow to Set Up a VPN Anywhere: 8 SolutionsDon't just use a VPN on one device. Keep every piece of hardware secure! Here's how to set up a VPN on every device you own.Read More with it. It’s also the protocol of choice among popular and easy-to-use VPN services like CyberGhost.
The OpenVPN protocol has faced criticism in the past due to low speeds. However, recent implementations have resulted in some boosts, and the focus on security and privacy is well worth considering.
2. L2TP/IPSec
Layer 2 Tunnel Protocol is a very popular VPN protocol. L2TP is the successor to the depreciated PPTP (for more details, see the PPTP section below), developed by Microsoft, and L2F, developed by Cisco. However, L2TP doesn’t actually provide any encryption or privacy itself.
Accordingly, services that use L2TP are frequently bundled with security protocol IPsec. Once implemented, L2TP/IPSec becomes one of the most secure VPN connections available. It uses AES-256 bit encryption, and has no known vulnerabilities (though IPSec has allegedly been compromised by the NSA).
That said, while L2TP/IPSec has no known vulnerabilities, it does have some slight flaws. For instance, the protocol defaults to use UDP on port 500. This makes traffic easier to spot and block.
3. SSTP
Secure Socket Tunneling Protocol is another popular VPN protocol. SSTP comes with one notable benefit: it has been fully integrated with every Microsoft operating system since Windows Vista Service Pack 1. This means you can use SSTP with Winlogon, or for increased security, a smart chip. Furthermore, many VPN providers have specific integrated Windows SSTP instructions available. You can find these on your VPN provider’s website.
SSTP uses 2048-bit SSL/TLS certificates for authentication and 256-bit SSL keys for encryption. Overall, SSTP is quite secure.
SSTP is essentially a Microsoft-developed proprietary protocol. This means nobody can fully audit the underlying code. However, most still consider SSTP secure.
Finally, SSTP has native support for Windows, Linux, and BSD systems. Android, macOS, and iOS have support via third party clients.
4. IKEv2
internet Key Exchange version 2 is another VPN protocol developed by Microsoft and Cisco. IKEv2 on its own is just a tunneling protocol, providing a secure key exchange session. Therefore (and like its predecessor), IKEv2 is frequently paired with IPSec for encryption and authentication.
While IKEv2 isn’t as popular as other VPN protocols, it features in many mobile VPN solutions. This is because it is adept at reconnecting during moments of temporary internet connection loss, as well as during a network switch (from Wi-Fi to mobile data, for instance).
IKEv2 is a proprietary protocol, with native support for Windows, iOS, and Blackberry devices. Open source implementations are available for Linux, and Android support is available through third party apps.
Unfortunately, while IKEv2 is great for mobile connections, there’s strong evidence that the NSA is actively exploiting IKE flaws to undermine IPSec traffic. Therefore, using an open source implementation is vital for security.
5. PPTP
Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol is one of the oldest VPN protocols. It is still in use in some places, but the majority of services have long upgraded to faster and more secure protocols.
Openvpn is much harder to block, pptp is easier.. Try the same thing on the pc see if it works..
— Harsh Doshi (@Harsh_Doshi96) August 15, 2017
PPTP was introduced way back in 1995. It was actually integrated with Windows 95, designed to work with dial-up connections. At the time, it was extremely useful.
But the VPN technology has progressed, and PPTP is no longer secure. Governments and criminals cracked PPTP encryption long ago, making any data sent using the protocol unsecure.
However, it isn’t quite dead… yet. You see, some people find PPTP gives the best connection speeds, precisely due to the lack of security features (when compared to modern protocols). As such, it still sees use for users simply wanting to watch Netflix from a different locationWhich VPNs Still Work With Netflix?Which VPNs Still Work With Netflix?Netflix is cracking down on VPNs, but there are a few that still work. Here are the best VPNs to use with Netflix.Read More.
Let’s Summarize the VPN Protocols
We’ve looked at the five major VPN protocols. Let’s quickly summarize their pros and cons.
- OpenVPN: Open source, offers strongest encryption, suitable for all activities, if a little slow at times
- L2TP/IPSec: Widely used protocol, good speeds, but easily blocked due to reliance on single port
- SSTP: Good security, difficult to block and detect
- IKEv2: Fast, mobile friendly, with several open source implementations (potentially undermined by NSA)
- PPTP: Fast, widely supported, but full of security holes, only use for streaming and basic web browsing
But now, it doesn’t end there. A new protocol has emerged, and while it’s not officially released—WireGuard is the future of VPN technology.
For complete security and peace of mind, choose a VPN provider that offers you choice of protocol. Furthermore, MakeUseOf advise using a paid VPN solution, like ExpressVPN, rather than a free service. When you pay for a VPN, you’re buying a service. When you use a free VPN, you’ve got no idea what they might do with your data.
Unsure where to start? Check out our list of the best VPN services. And here’s what you should look for in a VPN provider. If you insist on using a free solution to begin with, try Opera VPN.
We must warn you that while they’re mostly a safe solution, VPNs can be hackedYes, VPNs Can Be Hacked: What That Means for Your PrivacyYes, VPNs Can Be Hacked: What That Means for Your PrivacyNews that VPN services can be hacked has stunned the industry. But is it all that bad? What should you do if your VPN is hacked?Read More. Learn what that means for your privacy.
Explore more about: Online Privacy, Online Security, VPN.
- Is it a coincidence that ExpressVPN offers every one of these?
You have plenty of reasons for wanting to use a virtual private network (VPN) on your Mac. They include browsing safely on public Wi-Fi, hiding your location, accessing region-locked content, and keeping your file sharing habits to yourself.
Setting up a VPN on your Mac is easy. macOS has built-in support, and some VPN services provide their own hassle-free software. You can also install third-party tools for using different protocols.
Method 1: Use Your VPN Provider’s Software
Depending on your VPN provider (check out our best VPN servicesThe Best VPN ServicesThe Best VPN ServicesWe've compiled a list of what we consider to be the best Virtual Private Network (VPN) service providers, grouped by premium, free, and torrent-friendly.Read More), they may provide access to software that allows you to use the service. This software is tailored to your provider. Thus, you don’t have to mess around with configuring your connections, inputting IP addresses, or checking which protocols you can use.
Most VPN providers provide this software for Mac and Windows users. Linux users will likely need to set up your VPN on their ownEverything Linux Users Need to Know About Installing a VPNEverything Linux Users Need to Know About Installing a VPNLinux is inherently more secure than Windows. But this doesn't mean that you shouldn't keep an eye on how you access the internet. A firewall is necessary, and increasingly so is a VPN.Read More. Using provider software is a simple case of downloading and installing the client, logging in with your username and password, then connecting to a server of your choice.
Provider software makes it easy to jump around from server to server, since the software keeps a list of available connections. If you’re using your VPN to access region-locked content, this makes it easy to pick a server to connect to. Some providers have specific servers that are compatible with BitTorrent traffic. The software makes it easy to make sure you don’t fall foul of the rules.
Method 2: Use Apple’s Networking Tools
macOS has built-in support for creating VPN connections as part of Apple’s own networking tools. You can access these by heading to System Preferences > Network, then clicking on the Plus button.
From here you can specify a VPN connection, pick the VPN type (protocol), and give your new VPN connection a name. It pays to be descriptive when naming your connection if you intend to use more than one VPN server. For example, you might plan to access region-locked content in other countries.
macOS includes support for L2TP (Layer 2 Tunneling Protocol) over IPSec, Cisco IPSec, and the newer IKEv2 (internet Key Exchange version 2) protocol when setting up a VPN. L2TP is considered reasonably secure, though the protocol itself provides no protection. Instead it uses the IPSec secure network protocol, which is still relied upon by millions of VPN users every day.
IKEv2 is a more modern choice of protocol, favored for its ability to quickly reestablish a VPN connection in case of network dropout. Like L2TP, it also uses IPSec for encryption, though it’s still favored by many over L2TP for its speed.
Apple’s desktop OS used to support PPTP (Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol). This is a much older and more vulnerable protocol that was once favored by corporate networks but has since fallen by the wayside. If you want to create a PPTP connection, you’ll need to use a third-party app (like Shimo) to do so. But you should avoid this unless it’s necessary.
So which protocol should you use? That depends on which protocols your VPNThe 5 Major VPN Protocols ExplainedThe 5 Major VPN Protocols ExplainedOpenVPN, SSTP, L2TP: what do they all mean? We explain the major VPN protocols so you can choose the best one for your privacy needs.Read More provider provides access to. You should always avoid PPTP where possible, with L2TP and IKEv2 providing a passable level of security. But if you want an even more secure VPN connection…
Method 3: Use Third-Party VPN Software
Two other VPN protocols exist that aren’t supported out-of-the-box within macOS: SSTP (Secure Socket Tunneling Protocol) and OpenVPN.
SSTP is a proprietary standard which mostly only works with Windows, since it’s owned by Microsoft. SSTP uses closed-source SSL 3.0 encryption, which is why it’s considered highly secure (even though the code isn’t open to inspection).
OpenVPN, as the name may suggest, is a fully open source technology based on OpenSSL. This means the code is freely available for anyone to inspect. It supports AES (Advanced Encryption Standard). This open approach is often lauded a a proof-of-concept for stress-testing technology against outside attack.
Both of these standards are more secure than any included with macOS. It’s possible for VPN provider software to use either, so you might already use OpenVPN or SSTP and not even realize. But if you want greater control over your VPN setup, try one of the following apps.
We’ve recommended other free and open source macOS VPN clientsThese Are the Best Free Mac VPN ClientsThese Are the Best Free Mac VPN ClientsHow do you know which VPN client to use? Should you use your VPN provider's proprietary ap, or a flexible solution that can connect to several different services?Read More if you need more options.
OpenVPN: Tunnelblick
If you want to use OpenVPN on your Mac, Tunnelblick is the best tool for the job. It’s free, open source, and provides an easy-to-manage GUI for connecting your Mac via OpenVPN. You can add a long list of connections using downloadable configuration files, then select different servers using the main client or menu bar icon.
Download:Tunnelblick (Free)
SSTP: sstp-client
While SSTP is a Windows technology, it’s possible to connect to an SSTP server using macOS or Linux with sstp-client. The macOS version of this client depends on the Macports project; the easiest way to install it is using Mac command line package manager Homebrew.
Download:sstp-client (Free)
Which VPN Solution Should You Use?
Your VPN provider will likely recommend you use their own client, which makes connecting and managing your VPN connections easy. If you want to use your own client, you’ll need to make sure the connection you make is compatible with your chosen VPN protocol.
When given the choice, OpenVPN provides better security than L2TP or IKEv2. You should always endeavor to keep your VPN client updated, since security issues can and do arise (and often receive patches quickly).
Another option is to install a VPN connection on your routerHow to Set Up a VPN on Your RouterHow to Set Up a VPN on Your RouterVPNs are great for online privacy but running a VPN on every device is a pain. Save time and install a VPN on your router instead.Read More. This allows you to manage your connection for the entire network, ideal if you’re connecting to a local VPN strictly for security purposes.
Explore more about: Mac Tips, Online Security, VPN.
- I just downloaded NordVPN app on Mac, joined to network with my logins and turned the VPN on.