What does VPN protocol mean?

There is a difference between VPN protocols and virtual private networks (VPNs). For instance, FreeZone VPN is a VPN service that offers customers a variety of VPN protocols to select from based on their requirements and the device they are using.

A VPN sends your internet traffic across secure tunnels to VPN servers, which then give your device a new IP address. VPN protocols are a collection of software and procedures that specify how the tunnel is really built. The issue of safe, private, and largely anonymous online communication has several solutions.

Any VPN protocol may be improved. Each might have possible flaws that are known or undiscovered that could jeopardize your security or not. Explore the advantages and disadvantages of each protocol.

What variety of VPNs are there?

VPNs come in two varieties:

• Data sent or received on your device by a remote access VPN is encrypted to prevent eavesdropping. Site-to-site VPNs are all remote access VPNs when discussing VPNs used by private users.
• A company’s network can be extended between sites using VPNs.They are separated into two groups: extranet-based and intranet-based (to connect many LANs into one private network) (when a company wants to extend its network and share it with partners or customers).

VPNs are propelled by their protocols. Here are six popular VPN protocols along with their advantages and disadvantages.

6 typical VPN protocols

OpenVPN

Numerous VPN companies employ the well-liked and extremely secure OpenVPN protocol. It utilizes either the TCP or UDP internet protocol to operate. The former will ensure that your data is delivered completely and in the proper sequence, whilst the latter will emphasize speedier speeds. You may pick between the two with several VPNs, including FreeZone VPN.

Pros

• Open source implies transparency. Anyone may inspect the code for backdoors or weaknesses that could jeopardize the security of your VPN.
• Versatility. It may be set up for a variety of functions, used with a wide variety of encryption and communication protocols, and customized to be as secure or lightweight as you want.
• Security. It is extremely safe since it can implement practically any encryption scheme.
• Several firewalls are bypassed. When utilizing FreeZone VPN, firewall compatibility is not an issue, but if you ever set up your own VPN, it may be. Fortunately, you can simply get through your firewall with OpenVPN.

Cons

• complicated set up Since OpenVPN is so flexible, most users who attempt to set it up themselves could become overwhelmed by the amount of options and complexity.

When to apply it: When you require the highest level of protection, such as when using financial services, connecting to public Wi-Fi, or getting into your company’s database, OpenVPN is indispensable.

IPSec/IKEv2 2.

IKEv2 creates an encrypted and authenticated connection as the basis for a secure VPN connection. Microsoft and Cisco created it to be quick, dependable, and secure. It succeeds on each of these fronts, but its steadiness is really where it excels. IKEv2 employs additional IPSec technologies, which are a component of the IPSec internet security toolkit, to offer complete VPN coverage.

Pros

• Stability. IKEv2 often makes use of the Mobility and Multi-homing Protocol, an IPSec utility that maintains a VPN connection when you switch between internet connections. IKEv2 is hence the most trustworthy and consistent protocol for mobile devices.
• Security. IKEv2 is one of the most secure VPNs since it is compatible with the majority of popular encryption methods and is a component of the IPSec suite.
• Speed. When enabled, it uses less bandwidth and connects and communicates more quickly thanks to NAT traversal. Getting around firewalls is also helpful.

Cons

• minimal compatibility There aren’t many systems that IKEv2 is compatible with. Since Microsoft contributed to the creation of this protocol, Windows users won’t have a problem with it, but certain other operating systems will require modified versions.
• When to apply it: When using mobile data instead of Wi-Fi, IPSec/IKEv2 stability ensures that your VPN connection won’t be lost, making it a viable option for travelers. Additionally, it swiftly gets across firewalls and has fast streaming platform speeds.

3.WireGuard

Wireguard The newest and fastest tunneling protocol that the whole VPN industry is raving about is WireGuard. Modern cryptography used by it outperforms that of the two market leaders, OpenVPN and IPSec/IKEv2. However, it’s still regarded as experimental, so VPN companies must seek for new techniques to get around WireGuard’s flaws.

Pros

• Free and open source Its code is accessible to everyone, making it simpler to deploy, audit, and troubleshoot.
• Modern and quite quick. It is “the leanest” protocol of all since it has the fewest number of lines of code—only 4,000. In contrast, OpenVPN code has a hundred times higher line count.

Cons

• Incomplete. Although WireGuard holds out the possibility of being the “next great thing,” its implementation is still in its infancy and there is still much opportunity for growth. Since it presently falls short of giving consumers complete anonymity, VPN companies must come up with unique ways to meet security requirements without sacrificing speed.
  When to apply it: Use WireGuard when performance is a concern, such as while streaming, playing online games, or downloading huge files.

 

4. SSTP

Microsoft developed the reasonably safe and functional VPN protocol known as SSTP Secure Socket Tunneling Protocol (SSTP). Each user must choose whether utilizing this protocol is worthwhile for them given its benefits and drawbacks. SSTP may be used on platforms other than Windows, despite being predominantly a Microsoft product.

Pros

• Microsoft owns this. Because Windows OS has the majority of the market, you can be sure that it will either support SSTP or already have it. That also implies that if you attempt to set it up yourself, it should be simple and that Microsoft help is available.
• Secure. SSTP supports the AES-256 encryption standard, much as other popular VPNs.
• Overcomes firewalls. Most firewalls can’t stop SSTP from passing through them without affecting your communications.

Cons

• The code is not testable by security researchers since it is Microsoft-owned and not available for testing. Some believe the system could include backdoors because Microsoft has a history of working with the NSA and other law enforcement organizations. Most VPN companies steer clear of this protocol.

When to use it: SSTP is effective in enhancing online privacy.

5. L2TP/IPSec

L2TP/IPSec is a VPN tunneling protocol that establishes a connection between you and a VPN server but does not really provide any encryption or authentication. Your traffic will be encrypted and kept private and safe by the other technologies in the IPSec suite. Despite having a few useful features, this protocol has certain drawbacks that keep it from becoming the most used VPN protocol. (L2TP is no longer among the supported protocols for the FreeZone VPN.)

Pros

• Security. Ironically, the fact that L2TP provides no security at all makes it somewhat secure. This is so that the protocol may be as secure or lightweight as you want it to be. It can take a variety of various encryption techniques.
• Readily accessible. Since virtually all contemporary consumer systems support L2TP, administrators won’t have any problem seeking assistance or setting it up.

Cons

• maybe hacked by the NSA. L2TP is frequently used in conjunction with IPSec, just as IKEv2, hence it exhibits the same security flaws.
• Slow. Data is encapsulated twice by the protocol, which might be advantageous for some applications but slows it down in comparison to other protocols that only wrap data once.
• Has problems with firewalls. L2TP lacks any devious methods to get past firewalls, unlike other VPN protocols. Firewalls are used by system administrators with a focus on surveillance to prevent VPNs, and individuals who configure L2TP themselves are a common target.

When to apply it: L2TP may be used to conduct online banking and shopping transactions securely. When you wish to link numerous corporate branches into one network, it is also helpful.

6. PPTP

The first VPN protocol that was extensively used was PPTP, or Point to Point Tunneling Protocol. PPTP was developed in 1999. Dialup traffic was the original purpose of the tunnel. Of all the VPN protocols on our list, it employs some of the worst encryption techniques and has a lot of security flaws. (PPTP is no longer an accepted VPN protocol for the FreeZone.)

Pros

• Fast. Modern machines run PPTP quite effectively while being out of date. It is popular among those who wish to set up home VPNs specifically for accessing geo-restricted content since it is quick but provides just a bare minimum of protection.
• High compatibility. PPTP has effectively evolved into the bare-minimum standard for tunneling and encryption in the many years after it was created. It is supported by almost all current systems and gadgets. This makes it simple to set up and operate.

Cons

• Insecure. There are several PPTP flaws and exploits that have been found. Even Microsoft has urged users to switch to SSTP or L2TP since some (but not all) have received patches.
• The NSA broke the code. It is rumored that the NSA routinely decrypts this protocol.
• Firewalls blocking. PPTP connections are simpler to prevent through a firewall since they use an ancient, obsolete, and basic technology. Your service may be interrupted if you use the protocol at a place of business or education where VPN connections are forbidden.

When to utilize it: PPTP should only be used for streaming. Use more complex VPN protocols for anything else.