PPTP was one of the earliest VPN protocols to be adopted and was invented quite some time ago by Microsoft. It became well-known as a result of its inclusion as a standard feature in Windows. It does, however, have several security flaws.
First and foremost, the technology was insufficiently secure for usage in an enterprise setting. To date, only a 128-bit encryption key has been utilized as the world’s longest. The industry demanded a better solution. As a result, several firms created the IPsec protocol.
IPsec can operate across NAT and offers robust encryption, but it only encrypts communication between two Internet hosts. IPsec, on the other hand, does not support user authentication. A protocol other than IPsec must be able to accept a user’s login and password. This protocol is known as L2TP.
L2TP does not provide encryption. IPsec’s encryption is used to encrypt all user data before it is transferred via an encrypted connection, including usernames and passwords. As a result, L2TP is never utilized alone. L2TP/IPsec is considered an appropriate level of encryption in the business.
What are VPN Fundamentals?
A VPN, or Virtual Private Network, creates an encrypted tunnel via which data is routed from your location to another server. This server is used by the VPN to connect you to an online service, such as a streaming service. The VPN tunnelling protocol governs how your device communicates with the encrypted server.
What Is the Function of a VPN Protocol?
VPN protocols are made up of two channels: one for data and one for control. The control channel establishes a link between your device and the server, while the data channel transmits data. These channels work together to ensure that your data travels safely.
When a connection is formed, the VPN Protocol first performs a procedure known as encapsulation. The technique encapsulates user data packets into another data packet. This is done to avoid a mismatch between the VPN and destination server protocol setups and to ensure that your data arrives at the correct destination server.
L2TP, OpenVPN, and IKEv2/IPSec are all tried and true Virtual Private Network protocols that are used to establish a fast, secure, and stable connection between two nodes. Light way and WireGuard are cutting-edge new technologies that aim to elevate VPN use to new heights, whereas PPTP is an obsolete protocol that should be avoided.
What exactly is PPTP and how does it work?
PPTP is one of the oldest methods for constructing virtual private networks (VPNs), however, it is now considered obsolete due to several security problems.
- Encryption session keys of up to 128 bits are supported.
- To encrypt the data, the Microsoft Point to Point Encryption Protocol is employed.
- A username and password are all that are required to connect.
- When PPTP is compared to L2TP, it is evident that PPTP has numerous faults. Using these vulnerabilities, a Man-in-the-Middle attack was carried out. For individuals concerned about security, OpenVPN and IKEv2/IPSec are preferable solutions.
- Compatibility with routers using the manufacturer’s or default firmware is poor to non-existent.
- The port setup makes use of TCP and GRE ports.
Note: For People who didn't care about security or dependability, PPTP was a good solution. It was the quickest and simplest method of configuring a VPN using the DD-WRT firmware at the time, with wide platform compatibility. Most tech professionals, however, do not recommend it due to well-documented security issues.
Advantages of the PPTP Protocol
There are various advantages to using PPTP over other VPN protocols. Here are a few examples:
1. Windows XP compatibility mode
You’ll be relieved to learn that PPTP is enabled by default on any machine running a version of Microsoft Windows. It will not take much time or effort to set up a PPTP VPN.
In terms of effectiveness, Deploy PPTP is a popular VPN protocol since it is less expensive and easier to set up than L2TP/IPSec and other VPN protocols. This is because it does not necessitate the usage of a Public Key Infrastructure (PKI), which relies on digital certificates for authentication.
2. Internet Access That Is Extremely Fast
Using a virtual private network (VPN) can cause your Internet connection to slow down due to the encryption involved. You don’t have to worry about this because PPTP VPNs employ a low level of encryption.
There are certain Drawbacks to the PPTP Protocol
While there are certain benefits to using a PTPP VPN, there are also some disadvantages. Here are a few examples:
1. Inadequate Protection
The PPTP protocol is considered the least secure because it only uses 128-bit encryption. If you’re working with sensitive data, you’re better off using alternative VPN protocols that guarantee a high level of security.
2. Having Network Stability Issues
When connecting to a shaky or unreliable network, there are various disadvantages to using PPTP as a VPN protocol. If you need to share a lot of sensitive data, PPTP may not be the best option because it is not secure enough.
What exactly is L2TP and how does it work?
L2TP, or Layer 2 Tunneling Protocol, was created as a consequence of a collaboration between Cisco and Microsoft. It was created to replace PPTP in order to provide a more secure VPN protocol. L2TP is a tunnelling protocol that, like PPTP, allows users to join a shared network from a remote location.
Because it is a blend of PPTP and UDP, L2TP VPN is more firewall-friendly than PPTP because it uses a quicker transport protocol. As a result, it uses more CPU resources than PPTP, which uses 128-bit encryption. As a result, in terms of performance, this security protocol is slower than PPTP.
What type of Encryption Protocol is the L2TP/IPsec?
Virtual private network (VPN) connections are typically made using Layer 2 Tunnel Protocol (L2TP), which is provided by the vast majority of Internet service providers (ISPs).
- The IPsec protocol supports up to 256-bit session keys, although the session keys can vary depending on the techniques used.
- Encasing the data in two layers improves encryption.
- When compared to PPTP and OpenVPN, this VPN is slightly slower.
- L2TP/IPsec clients and support are incorporated into all modern devices and operating systems.
- This software is compatible with Linux, Android, Apple iOS, and Mac OS X.
Protocols for Routing
UDP 500 and Protocol 50, as well as UP 1701 and UP 4500, are used.
L2TP/IPsec is significantly more secure and stable than PPTP, making it the superior choice. The IPsec authentication suite is used to perform encryption and data encapsulation. In terms of security, L2TP outperforms PPTP, one of the original VPN protocols. Despite the fact that L2TP encryption has been available for a long time, sophisticated attackers have recently been able to breach it. Although L2TP is more secure than PPTP, users that place high importance on security may prefer to utilize OpenVPN instead.
Note: L2TP is less stable and slower than OpenVPN and IKEv2/IPsec. When employing the same encryption levels, OpenVPN and IKEv2 both give quicker speeds and fewer network drops. Drops are more likely since IPSec is more complicated to configure.
The Benefits and Drawbacks of the L2TP Protocol
There are a few advantages to using L2TP as your VPN protocol of choice. Here are a few examples.
Pros of the L2TP Protocol
1. Increased Security
The L2TP protocol has no notable security weaknesses, making it safer than PPTP. It encrypts, authenticates, and safeguards data at every step along the process as part of the IPSec package.
IPSec VPNs are frequently paired with L2TP since L2TP lacks encryption and authentication capabilities (two important components of VPNs). The framework’s security characteristics can also be used by IKEv2 and other protocols.
2. Design That Is Intuitive
Many operating systems include native L2TP support, making it simple to get it working on your device. PPTP, on the other hand, is easier to set up than L2TP since it uses digital certificates.
3. Exceptionally Reliable
The L2TP VPN protocol has no performance issues when used with faulty connections because it is significantly more reliable than PPTP. As a result, when connecting to remote networks, is more secure than PPTP.
Cons of the L2TP Protocol
There are certain benefits to using an L2TP VPN, but there are also some disadvantages. Here are a few examples:
1. Internet Connections That Are Slow
L2TP often results in slow connection speeds because it encrypts data twice and consumes more CPU resources. As a result, a PPTP VPN is a superior option for people who prioritize speed above security.
2. It’s Easier to Block
DPI approaches can readily block PPTP and L2TP because they both use fixed ports. As a result, some firewalls may easily detect and disable VPN protocols.
Related: PureVPN for Windows helps you integrate state-of-the-art security protocol in your operating system, making your online security air-tight.
Comparison of PPTP and L2TP
Let’s take a look at the PPTP and L2TP protocols to see how they compare. The following distinctions exist between PPTP and L2TP:
Elements | PPTP | L2TP |
---|---|---|
BASICS | Windows' initial and most basic VPN protocol. | UDP-based tunneling protocol with IPsec security/encryption. |
Suitability | A wide range of computers, mobile devices, and tablets are supported. | A wide range of computers, mobile devices, and tablets are supported. |
Security | Keys with a 128-bit length | Keys with a 256-bit length |
Usage | Using the built-in client of the device or operating system and entering the login | password, and server address with a pre-shared key |
Stability | Even though it's a little shaky, Wi-Fi hotspots generally accept it. | Stable on a wide range of devices, networks, and operating systems, including Linux, Windows, and Mac. |
Supportive devices | Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, Android, DD-WRT, and other operating systems are also supported. | Everything from Windows to Mac OSX to Linux to iOS to Android can be run on any of these operating systems or devices. |
Security | Encryption in its simplest form. | It's a safe bet. Double-encryption to ensure the integrity of the data. |
Advantages | A wide range of devices are supported, making it easy to set up and configure. | Network or ISP limits can be bypassed with a simple setup and configuration. |
Disadvantages | Any given network can have different levels of stability than another. | Government-level security is not provided. Blocking is a simple process. Reducing the Speed |
Conclusion
When utilising PPTP VPN, faster speeds and convenience of use come at the sacrifice of security. However, because L2TP VPN is more secure than PPTP, it is a preferable option despite its slower performance.
FAQs
The inadequacy of PPTP's integrity protection puts data at risk while it is tunnelled. RC4, an AEAD (Authenticated Encryption with Associated Data) cypher, encrypts data but does not verify its integrity.
The PPTP protocol makes no mention of encryption or authentication capabilities, instead of relying on the Point-to-Point Protocol being tunnelled to perform all security features.
It is also faster than other built-in protocols such as L2TP/IPSec, SSTP, and IKEv2. Nonetheless, PPTP has long been regarded as obsolete. Use a more secure approach as an alternative: Select an OpenVPN, PPTP, SSTP, or IKEv2 VPN protocol.