What Type of VPN Uses SSL?

The Secure Sockets Layer or SSL is a security protocol originally designed for securing electronic commerce over the Internet. It was designed to be a replacement for the now-defunct Data Security Standard or the common user password. So just what type of VPN uses SSL? Let’s examine.

OpenVPN

If you’ve been following along at home, you’ll notice that I frequently refer to the open source Virtual Private Network or VPN software called OpenVPN. For those of you who are curious, OpenVPN supports almost every known protocol for securing VPN traffic including L2TP, MPLS, and SOCKS. It also supports the SSH Protocol for remote logins and secure file transfers. So if you’re looking for a free and open source option for your VPN needs, you should check out OpenVPN.

However, although OpenVPN is free and open source, it is not entirely without its quirks. For example, if you are connecting to a VPN server in Sweden, you may experience some slight latency in your VPN connection due to the distance between the two locations. Additionally, the OpenVPN team has stated that since their software is open source, it is subject to manipulation by determined individuals looking to cause trouble. So if you’re connecting to a server in the United Kingdom, you may want to consider other options as well.

PPTP

The Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol or PPTP is another very popular option used for VPNs. It was originally designed for use with DSL connections and dial-up modems, but has since found its way into the mainstream as a secure and easily administrable VPN protocol. It is quite flexible as it can support all known VPN protocols as well as L2TP, MPLS, and SOCKS. It also supports Microsoft’s VPN protocol called Microsoft Point To Point Encryption or MPPE for those of you who are curious.

PPTP supports all major platforms including Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux. It also has a rather large online community which you can access by visiting pptp.org from any of your favorite web browsers. If you’re looking for a no-fuss, ultra-secure and flexible VPN solution, you could consider PPTP.

L2TP/IPsec

Layer Two Tunneling Protocol or L2TP is a data link layer encryption protocol for creating secure communication tunnels over regular physical networks like the Internet. It provides security by allowing the Data Encryption Standard or DES to be implemented on a per-packet basis. It also supports all VPN protocols including PPTP, L2TP/IPsec, and SOCKS. If you’re wondering, L2TP stands for ‘Layer Two Tunneling Protocol’. It was designed to be a successor to Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol or PPTP and to provide greater encryption stability and robustness. You’ll frequently see L2TP used in combination with IP Security or IPSec as IP Security is built upon the proven and reliable L2TP infrastructure. The two protocols together form a hybrid that is secure, easy to set up and administer, and highly compatible.

L2TP is a reliable, speed-optimized, and secure solution for VPNs. Its online community is also very active and helpful, which makes navigating the setup process much easier. It is fairly lightweight and so is quick to set up and use effectively. If you’re looking for a quick and easy to use solution with all the benefits of greater security and stability, you could consider L2TP.

IKEv2

IKEv2 or Internet Key Exchange version 2 is a protocol that allows for the negotiation of symmetric encryption keys between entities over the Internet. It is designed to replace the old IKEv1 that was commonly used in VPNs prior to the development of IKEv2. It does this by providing a more secure and reliable way to establish VPN connections. It also supports all known VPN protocols as well as L2TP, MPLS, and SOCKS. Simply put, IKEv2 is a more modern and secure version of IKEv1 that is used in VPNs today.

IKEv2 is free and open source, which means that it is available for all major platforms including Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux. It is also a widely adopted protocol, which you can see by visiting ikev2.com from any browser. If you’re looking for a robust, popular, and free solution that supports all known VPN protocols, you could consider IKEv2.

Microsoft VPN

The Microsoft VPN or the Microsoft Point-To-Point Encryption Protocol allows for the secure and private exchange of data between two entities over the Internet. It was designed to replace the older and now-defunct Data Encryption Standard or DES protocol when used in conjunction with the Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol or PPTP. It also supports all known VPN protocols as well as L2TP, MPLS, and SOCKS. Interestingly, it was originally developed by Microsoft to be used in conjunction with their Internet Explorer web browser but has since become a standardized and open source protocol.

Since the Microsoft VPN is an open source protocol, it is available for all major platforms including Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux. It is also a widely adopted protocol, meaning that you can readily find servers and clients available for use. If you’re curious, you can visit microsoft.com/security from any browser to access information on the Microsoft VPN.

SSTP/SPDY

The Secure Socket Tunneling Protocol or SSTP is a tunneling protocol that was designed to allow for the secure and private transfer of data between two locations over the Internet. It allows for the establishment of virtual private networks or VPNs but was not originally designed for that purpose. SSTP stands for ‘Secure Socket Tunneling Protocol’ and it can be used in the construction of VPNs to allow for greater confidentiality and protection of data being transmitted over untrusted networks like the Internet. Since SSTP is only a tunneling protocol, it is compatible with all other known VPN protocols including L2TP, IPsec, and SOCKS. It also supports all platforms including Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux.

SPDY is a security protocol for caching proxies and gateways which provides for the secure and private exchange of information between sites. It is based upon the TLS/SSL Protocol but is more streamlined and efficient. If you’re curious, you can visit spdye.org to learn more about SPDY and what it can do for your web browsing experience.

OpenVPN with DD-WRT

If you’re an owner of a wireless-enabled router, you may have heard of the OpenWRT operating system, which is built into many routers made by the major vendors like Cisco, Linksys, and Buffalo. One of the defining characteristics of the OpenWRT operating system is that it is based upon, and so is compatible with, the widely deployed and well-known open source software project called the Linux kernel. The most recent version of the OpenWRT operating system is based upon the 4.19.9.1 version of the Linux kernel and it is quite possibly the most secure, stable, and feature-rich version of the Linux kernel available today. If you’re looking for a wireless-enabled router that is customized for maximum security and stability, you could consider an OpenWRT-based device instead of buying pre-packaged hardware from your favorite vendor.

Other Popular VPN Choices

There are many other popular and highly-regarded VPN protocols out there, which I’ve listed below for those of you who are curious.

The IPSec IKEv2 protocol can also be used for VPNs, as can the similarly named IPSec IKEv1 protocol. You’ll also frequently see the SSL protocol or its various variants such as Secure Sockets Layer or HTTPS, and the TLS/SSL protocol itself used for VPNs. The SSL/TLS protocols allow for the secure transmission of data between two locations. They were originally designed for use in web browsers but have found their way into many other applications and technologies as well, including VPNs. So if you’re looking for an open source solution that is secure and trusted, you could consider any of these programs or protocols.

What Type of VPN Uses SSL?

Hopefully, this article has provided you with enough information about the various types of VPN protocols available today. I would recommend that you review the list of supported protocols whenever you’re looking for a new VPN solution or service provider. Additionally, if you’re connecting to a VPN server in the United States, you may want to consider using the AES-256 algorithm for increased data security instead of the more rudimentary AES-128 algorithm which is commonly used today.

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