Everything to Know About VPN Encryption

A virtual private network, or VPN, allows internet users to mask or hide specific information through encryption to keep their browsing more secure. VPNs also modify your IP address to allow access to websites that may be blocked by an entity, such as the government or a business.

VPN encryption is the key to its security. If you are using a VPN or looking for a solution, understanding the types of encryption and what each uses will help you decide on the best one for your needs. Now, let’s look at how VPNs work and the various security protocols offered.

Does a VPN encrypt data?

VPN encryption protects your data by making it unreadable to anyone trying to spy on you. Using shared Wi-Fi, like at a coffee shop or hotel, or even your home network with your internet service provider (ISP) watching your activity, opens you up to prying eyes. 

Encryption takes information, such as your browsing data, and hides it in a series of code to mask the true meaning of the information. VPN encryption can help protect your personal information when using public Wi-Fi. Beyond encryption, VPN services also offer other security features that help protect your internet activity.

What does a VPN hide?

VPNs are useful tools for many different reasons. You might need a VPN to hide your IP address, your location, or your browser history:

• Your IP address: A VPN changes your IP address and gives you a new one while the VPN is active. Your IP address shows your online activity, so hiding it through a VPN stops anyone from tracking you online.
• Your location: Information about your location is also shared when you’re browsing online. If you’re traveling internationally and want to access U.S.-based sites, a VPN can hide your location so you have access.
• Your browser history: When connected to a VPN, your browsing history is encrypted and inaccessible by your internet service provider (ISP), hackers, and other entities. This can protect your personal information when using a public internet connection. Features such as incognito mode do not fully hide your IP address and browser history.

By hiding these aforementioned things, the VPN protects personal information that may be susceptible to hackers online.

Do VPNs really work?

VPNs protect your security when browsing online. Their effectiveness depends on the security protocol and the type of encryption used. As technology evolves, so do the different protocols for VPN security.

How do VPNs encrypt data?

VPNs use several different types of encryption to protect your data. The difference in encryption is mainly based on the encryption key used. Many encryption methods include Advanced Encryption Standard (AES), public-key, symmetric, and transport layer security.

AES encryption

AES encryption is one of the strongest protocols available. Three different lengths of encryption keys, AES-128, AES-192, and AES-256, provide increased security. Even with the most robust encryption key, AES uses less memory than other encryption methods and is easier to implement.

Public-key encryption

Public-key encryption uses a combination of two keys — a public key and a private key. In order to decrypt any data, you must have public and private keys. This type of encryption is often used, especially for secure sockets layer (SSL) security, which encrypts website data. 

SSL security encrypts internet data on websites with an SSL certificate to protect user information. A website with SSL security will display an HTTPS, or Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure, pre-fix instead of HTTP. Public-key encryption is also known as asymmetric encryption.

Symmetric encryption

Symmetric encryption uses the same key to encrypt and decrypt information. Information is encrypted by scrambling the data. The information is unscrambled and decrypted once the recipient inputs the password or key. 

AES encryption is a type of symmetric encryption. Because both computers must know the same key, there is concern that the key could be intercepted, making it less secure.

Transport layer security (TLS)

TLS is an encryption protocol that protects data on the Internet. It is used primarily to protect communication between websites and servers, but it also protects other communication, such as email and messaging. 

TLS includes three parts: encryption, authentication, and integrity. It encrypts the data, ensures that the correct recipient is getting it, and then ensures that the data hasn’t been tampered with. VPNs use TLS to help protect user data.

VPN encryption method	Security strength
AES	Strongest
Public-key	Strong
Transport layer security (TLS)	Strong
Symmetric	Weakest

Types of VPN protocols

One of the things that makes different VPNs unique is the protocol used. These protocols have varying levels of security, may use more or less bandwidth to encrypt your data, and may be outdated or too new to offer full protection. Understanding VPN protocols and which is best for your situation is important to your online security.

OpenVPN

OpenVPN is a widely used protocol for VPNs. It boasts a highly secure and open-source solution. OpenVPN is customizable to the user's needs and can use different encryption protocols to provide the necessary security level. With all the versatility, setting up OpenVPN for your needs can be more challenging.

WireGuard

WireGuard is a reasonably new VPN protocol, and its effectiveness is still being explored. WireGuard is an open-source solution and boasts faster speeds than other VPN protocols. Although this protocol looks promising, it is still very new and lacks features such as full anonymity for users.

L2TP/IPsec

Layer 2 tunneling protocol is a tunneling protocol for VPNs. Tunneling is a method of transporting data using protocols that are unsupported by the network. It moves packets of information by putting that information inside of another supported packet. 

Unfortunately, it does not include encryption or authentication. It solely connects you to your VPN server. L2TP relies on IPSec protocols to provide encryption. IPSec consists of different protocols that help encrypt data. 

L2TP is available on many systems and offers flexibility regarding the amount of security you need. However, it can be slow, has been potentially compromised by the National Security Agency, and struggles with firewalls.

IKEv2

The Internet Key Exchange version 2, known as IKEv2, is a reliable VPN protocol. It offers one of the most secure encryptions. It uses minimal bandwidth and is consistent even when moving between internet connections. The only downside of IKEv2 is its limited compatibility.

SSTP

SSTP is owned by Microsoft, which means it's supported by Windows OS. It also uses AES-256 encryption to provide it with leading security. However, because Microsoft owns it, it has limited options for research on its security. There are also concerns about Microsoft cooperating with the NSA.

PPTP

The Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol (PPTP) was one of the first VPN protocols available. Unfortunately, it uses weak encryption protocols and has many security concerns, including being decrypted by the NSA and commonly blocked by firewalls. It is fast and highly compatible, but its security concerns outweigh the benefits. Overall, PPTP is not a secure VPN solution.

VPN protocol	Security strength
OpenVPN	Very strong
IKEv2	Very secure
WireGuard	New but showing great potential
L2TP/IPsec	Weak without supplementation
SSTP	Security concerns
PPTP	Not secure

Does a VPN protect you from hackers?

A major benefit of a VPN is that it protects your data from hackers, especially on public networks. For instance, if you’re using unprotected Wi-Fi in a coffee shop and you check your bank account balance, a hacker may be able to infiltrate the network and gain access to your login information. 

Instead, you could access this information through a VPN, which scrambles and hides the data from hackers. As long as you use a reputable VPN, this data is encrypted, and anyone trying to access it will be out of luck.

Can a VPN be traced?

Tracing a VPN depends on its type and the security standards offered. If you are using a high-quality VPN, you're safe. Even your ISP cannot trace your VPN usage. They can only see that encrypted data is traveling through its servers.

If your VPN is disconnected, your ISP can view your activity. In this situation, you’re browsing the web, your VPN disconnects, and your ISP has immediate access to your activity. This is why a kill switch is an important feature to help protect your data if the VPN connection drops. 

When using a VPN, your ISP and other entities can only see the VPN connection but not anything afterward. If you use a premium VPN with obfuscated servers, even the fact that you're using a VPN will be hidden.

What’s the most secure VPN?

So, what VPN is the most secure? When looking for a VPN, you want to find one with a trusted encryption method and secure VPN protocol. Here are some options:

VPN	Lowest price	Encryption method	VPN protocol
NordVPN	$3.99/mo. (for 24 mos.)	AES-256	IKEv2/IPsec, OpenVPN, NordLynx
SurfShark	$2.49/mo. (for 24 mos.)	AES-256-GCM	IKEv2/IPsec or OpenVPN
IPVanish	$3.99/mo. (for 12 mos.)	AES-256	WireGuard, OpenVPN
PureVPN	$1.99/mo	AES-256	WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2

What to look for in a secure VPN

To find the VPN that’s best for you — and the most secure — you want to make sure it has the necessary features. Here are some things to look for when picking a VPN:

• Encryption method: Ensure your VPN has sufficient encryption for your online activity. Many VPNs use AES-256 encryption, which is military-grade and secure.
• VPN protocol: Look at your VPN’s protocol and check to see whether it meets all your needs. Most paid VPNs use sufficient protocols, but some free VPNs may use outdated or unsecured protocols.
• Extra features: Different VPN providers have various extra features to help you, including threat protection, dark web monitoring, a kill switch in case your VPN gets disconnected, and more.

The type of VPN and its overall security depend on you and how you plan to use it. Evaluate the level of security you need to help you find the best VPN for you.

To gain the most security, you should understand the different features available from your VPN provider and be thorough when setting up a VPN. It is also important to note that VPNs use data, and if you’re using a cellular network or have limited bandwidth, it could affect your usage.  

VPN encryption FAQs

Bottom line

VPNs are great tools for avoiding Internet censorship, keeping data secure on shared networks, and protecting browsing history. 

To find the right VPN for you, understand how you’ll be using it and what security features are necessary. For instance, if you’re looking to watch Netflix while traveling, you'll want one that prioritizes speed to avoid buffering. You'll want heavy encryption and security if you're dealing with sensitive data. 

Regardless of the use of a VPN, there are many quality options to help keep your data secure.