A VPN, or virtual private network, is a secure tunnel between two or more devices. A VPN encrypts and decrypts data as it travels between devices on the internet. This process is used to protect transmitted data and ensure privacy.
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Introduction
A VPN, or Virtual Private Network, is a technology that creates a secure, encrypted connection over a less secure network. When you use a VPN, your data is transmitted through an “tunnel” that cannot be read or accessed by anyone outside of the VPN. This process protects your data from being intercepted by other people on the network, and it also helps to protect your identity by encrypting your data.
There are two main types ofVPNs: site-to-site and remote-access. Site-to-site VPNs connect two or more locations, such as offices or branch locations, and allow all of the devices on those networks to communicate with each other. Remote-access VPNs, on the other hand, allow individual users to connect to a network from a remote location, such as their home or office.
Both site-to-site and remote-access VPNs use similar methods to protect transmitted data. In order for data to be transmitted securely through a VPN, it must be encrypted. Encryption is a process of transforming readable data into an unreadable format using mathematical algorithms. The data can only be decrypted using the same algorithms with the proper key.
There are two main encryption methods used in VPNs: symmetric key encryption and asymmetric key encryption. With symmetric key encryption, both the sender and receiver use the same key to encrypt and decrypt the data. This type of encryption is faster and more efficient than asymmetric key encryption, but it can be more vulnerable to security breaches because if one person knows the key, they can access the data. Asymmetric key encryption uses two different keys – one for encrypting the data (the public key) and one for decrypting it (the private key). This type of encryption is more secure because it means that even if someone knows one of the keys, they cannot access the data without also knowing the other key.
The most common type of symmetric key encryption used in VPNs is Advanced Encryption Standard (AES). AES is a strong form of symmetric key encryption that uses 128-, 192-, or 256-bit keys. The most common type of asymmetric key encryption used in VPNs is RSA (named after its creators), which uses 1024-bit keys.
Both AES and RSA are considered very secure methods of encrypting data. In order for someone to decrypt data that has been encrypted with AES or RSA, they would need to have access to the proper keys and algorithms – something that is very unlikely unless they are specifically targeting your VPN connection.
The Three Main Types of VPN Protocols
There are three main types of VPN protocols: PPTP, L2TP, and OpenVPN. PPTP is the most basic type of protocol and it uses 128-bit encryption. L2TP is more secure than PPTP and it uses 256-bit encryption. OpenVPN is the most secure type of protocol and it uses 256-bit encryption.
Internet Protocol Security (IPSec)
Internet Protocol Security (IPSec) is a framework of open standards developed by the IETF to secure virtual private network (VPN) connections. IPSec can be used to protect data communications on any type of network, including the Internet. It provides authentication and encryption of data at the IP layer.
IPSec uses a combination of encryption and authentication to protect data communications. Encryption protects the confidentiality of data by transforming the data into an unreadable format. Authentication verifies the identity of the sender and receiver of data, and ensures that the data has not been altered in transit.
IPSec can be used in two different modes: transport mode and tunnel mode. In transport mode, IPSec encrypts and authenticates only the data portion of each packet. The headers are left unencrypted. In tunnel mode, IPSec encrypts and authenticates both the data and headers of each packet. Tunnel mode is more commonly used because it provides better security for most VPN applications.
IPSec is a versatile tool that can be used to secure many different types of VPN connections, including site-to-site VPNs, remote access VPNs, and extranet VPNs.
Layer 2 Tunneling Protocol (L2TP)
Layer 2 Tunneling Protocol (L2TP) is a type of VPN protocol that allows for the Authentication and Encapsulation of PPP traffic. L2TP has been around since 1999, and was standardized in 2005.
L2TP is commonly used with the IPsec protocol to secure the data-carrying (payload) traffic of an L2TP tunnel. When used with IPsec, data integrity, confidentiality and authentication mechanisms can be implemented. Prior to being encrypted by IPsec, data is encapsulated in an L2TP header.
L2TP/IPsec uses User Datagram Protocol (UDP) port 500 for both control messages and data messages by default. This makes it possible to run L2TP/IPsec through most firewalls that block VPNs based on TCP port 443 (used by SSL/TLS). In addition, if you are using NAT-T (UDP encapsulation of ESP traffic), NAT-T port 4500 needs to be open on your firewall as well.
Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol (PPTP)
Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol (PPTP) is the most commonly used protocol and is included as standard with most Microsoft and Mac operating systems. It’s also supported by many routers and can be configured manually on other devices. PPTP uses a 128-bit encryption key and is therefore not as secure as some other protocols, but it’s generally faster.
Layer 2 Tunneling Protocol (L2TP)
Layer 2 Tunneling Protocol is an extension of PPTP and uses a stronger 256-bit encryption key. L2TP/IPSec is therefore more secure than PPTP but can be slower because of the extra processing required. You will need to set up L2TP manually on your device.
OpenVPN
OpenVPN has the strongest encryption of all the protocols but can only be used on devices that support the OpenVPN app. OpenVPN also requires more processing power than other protocols, so it can slow down your connection speed.
Conclusion
A VPN, or virtual private network, is a secure tunnel between your device and the internet. When you connect to a VPN, all your internet traffic is routed through thisencrypted tunnel, which makes it much harder for anyone to snoop on your web browsing or steal your personal data. This is why VPNs are often used by businesses as a way to protect sensitive data when employees are working remotely.
There are two main types of VPN: those that use PPTP (Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol) and those that use L2TP/IPsec (Layer 2 Tunneling Protocol with Internet Protocol Security).
PPTP is usually faster than L2TP/IPsec, but it’s also less secure because PPTP uses less robust encryption. L2TP/IPsec, on the other hand, is more secure but can be slower because it uses more sophisticated encryption.
So, which process should you use to protect transmitted data in a VPN? If speed is your primary concern, then you should use PPTP. If security is your main concern, then you should use L2TP/IPsec.