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Five, Nine, Fourteen Eyes Surveillance Alliances Explained

Monitoring the exchange of communications has long been a primary focus of the Alliance members, and with the rise of digital communications and the Internet, this area of their surveillance has expanded to include the monitoring of these technologies.

The governments have the ability to do the following:

Install malware on electrical components
Override national laws in favor of their wishes
Require companies to give away private user information
Require companies to give the five nations plans for new devices

The Five Eyes have two ways to collect data, the PRISM method, and the Upstream Collection Method. PRISM works with global companies such as Apple, Google, and Microsoft. The Upstream Collection Method collects data directly from communications between two parties. It does this by monitoring fiber cables and other infrastructures.

What is the Five Eyes Alliance?

Five Eyes, or “FVEY”, is a worldwide surveillance program that was developed in the mid-1900s.

As the name implies, there are five countries in the alliance.

The program began by intercepting telephones, faxes, and computers as a spying program in WWII. With the advent of the Internet, spying has become widespread. It now affects the privacy of civilians around the world.

The name “Five Eyes” refers to the designators on classified documents.

For example, top-secret documents can be designated as “US Eyes Only”. With five nations being involved, it became easier to say “Five Eyes Only” instead of “For AUS/CAN/NZ/UK/US Eyes Only”.

Currently, the five countries in the alliance are:

Australia
Canada
New Zealand
United Kingdom
United States

What Data is Collected And How Does the Government Find Out?

After the recent global terrorist attacks, several Alliance members have begun to expand powers of surveillance inside their borders. While the primary goal of the Alliance is to protect citizens from foreign terrorist schemes, the Alliance has also begun watching the activities of citizens within member countries.

One of the ways in which this is being achieved is through telecoms and Internet Service Providers (ISPs).

In the US, ISPs must keep track of the subscribers’ names, billing address, IP address, date and times ranges, hardware information, etc. And ISPs must hand over the data to the government agencies if requested.

In the UK, the Regulatory Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA) of 2016 requires telecoms and ISP companies to log the connection information of users, together with their text messages and browser histories for a minimum of 2 years. That information must be accessible by the UK”s government agencies and their partners without any need for a warrant.

All member countries within the Alliance all have similar laws regarding data retention.

The activities of many prominent people have been monitored over the years by the Five Eyes Alliance. Celebrities such as Jane Fonda and John Lennon, and political figures like Nelson Mandela and Angela Merkel have all been of interest to the Alliance at one time or another.

Unofficial Member Countries of the FVEY

As well as the five core member countries, there are others which are unofficial members.

The main unofficial member countries are:

South Korea
Singapore
Japan
Israel
14 British Overseas Territories

These countries cooperate with certain members of the Alliance, furnishing information but not necessarily receiving any information in return.

The Nine Eyes and Fourteen Eyes Alliance

Both the Nine Eyes Alliance and the Fourteen Eyes Alliance are, as you might guess from their names, extensions of the Five Eyes program.

The purpose of these organizations is to expand the surveillance reach across the member countries. Although these two expanded organizations have a less strong reciprocal relationship in terms of cooperation as the Five Eyes Alliance members, they still share information with other members.

The Nine Eyes Alliance

The members of the Nine Eyes Alliance include the original Five Eyes Alliance members together with four other countries.

Namely:

France
Denmark
Norway
Netherlands

The purpose of this extension is simply to allow greater cooperation among the countries, enabling the collection and sharing of greater amounts of data between the members.

Although the four additional members making up the nine do not have as high a level of cooperation when compared to the original Five Eyes Alliance members, they can take advantage of resource and data sharing.

Fourteen Eyes Alliance

A further extension of the Five Eyes Alliance and the Nine Eyes Alliance, the Fourteen Eyes Alliance incorporates all of the members of the other two organizations together with:

Sweden
Italy
Belgium
Spain
Germany

Just like the Nine Eyes Alliance, this expanded organization is designed to allow for more extended surveillance as well as greater sharing and collecting availability for member countries.

The five additional countries that were added to the Nine Eyes members to make up the Fourteen Eyes Alliance have even less of an intimate relationship with the original Five Eyes members than that enjoyed by the four additional Nine Eyes Alliance members.

However, they too can take advantage of access to intelligence and resources which otherwise they may have been unable to access. This group also has an official name, which is the Signals Intelligence (SIGINT) Seniors Group – more on this under the history section below if you’re interested.

Surveillance Of Communications In Third-Party Nations

The Five Eyes program has since evolved to include several tertiary countries. The nations co-operate with the surveillance requirements. For example, Denmark agreed to have equipment installed in their country in exchange for access to NSA technology.

The Effect On Virtual Private Network (VPN) Providers

For the general public, the area in which the surveillance activities of the Alliance members could have a major impact is in the field of monitoring VPN providers.

Providers which are based within any of the Five Eyes, Nine Eyes or Fourteen Eyes Alliance nations as well as any providers which are based in territories and countries which cooperate with any of those member nations could be logging data about what their customers are doing online.

The three Alliance organizations operate on a global scale and can, therefore, monitor communications around the world.

Even when VPN providers claim to not provide logs, it is still possible that they are keeping logs including information like IP addresses, the times of the start and end of the browsing session and how much data was used in each session.

This has led to concerns by private citizens that their privacy with regard to online activity could be compromised. The reason being, the Alliance members are monitoring connections, VPN and ISP logs.

These concerns have only increased since 2013 when documents were revealed by Edward Snowden which showed that the Five Eyes states had been using other members states to spy on their own citizens in order to circumvent the restrictive laws surrounding citizen surveillance.

Importance of No Logs

Today, most, if not all VPNs claim that they do not keep any logs.

This is an underhanded marketing tactic from shady VPNs to gain trust from their visitors. People often fall for this tactic and are often exposed to logging.

Why is this important?

A VPN is your first line of defense.

If you are torrenting illegally, you are exposed. A VPN could mask you from trackers, but upon further investigation, your VPN provider will have to hand over your data – opening you up to lawsuits.

If you are doing any illicit activities, you are exposed. A VPN could conceal your identity for the time being, but again, if the government requests your data from the VPN provider, your data will be handed over.

If you are a privacy advocate then using a VPN that logs is contradictory. A VPN that keeps logs simply isn’t protecting your identity and privacy remains as an illusion.

History of the Five Eyes Alliance

The Alliance began in 1941, when the United States and Great Britain agreed to share their intelligence with each other. This was part of the Atlantic Charter as a secret treaty. It was then renewed two years later when the BRUSA agreement was made. The final BRUSA agreement was made official in 1946. After this, more nations joined the pact. The countries that joined after the initial formation were New Zealand, Australia, and Canada. The Alliance became known as the UKUSA/BRUSA Agreement, and the name has stuck despite other nations joining the pact.

Surveillance During War Time

During the Cold War, the National Security Agency (NSA) and cooperating nations spied on the Soviet Union, The Republic of China, and many Eastern European nations. These Eastern European countries were referred to as “exotics”.

When the Vietnam War came, surveillance carried out by the United States was greatly supported by New Zealand and Australia. Operators were located in the Asia-Pacific region and in the British colony of Hong Kong. The station in Hong Kong monitored the air network in North Vietnam.

During the Falklands War, the British were given intelligence from other nations in the Five Eyes Alliance.

The ECHELON Program

Originally, the five nations used a program called “ECHELON” to spy on people and governments.

This technology was developed during the second world war to eavesdrop on the Soviets and their allies. It consisted of several points on the globe where computer, telephone, and faxes were interrupted.

The records were then kept on ECHELON computers, which hold vast amounts of data. ECHELON also intercepts private communications.

Telephone calls, e-mails, fax, and other forms of communication are all vulnerable to interception. The significance of the ECHELON program lies in its ability to not only collect communications, but sort through them.

Using keywords and phrases, ECHELON can pinpoint suspicious activity.

SIGINT

Originally formed back in 1982 at the height of the Cold War, the SIGINT Seniors Group in Europe had 9 members in its first incarnation.

At that time, the primary focus of the organization was to uncover information about military movements in what was then the USSR. In more recent times, the group expanded to fourteen members and the focus moved onto counter-terrorism.

The intelligence that is shared between the five nations is called “Signals Intelligence”.

Signals intelligence involves the interception of communications. The communication could be between people, or it could be between electronic systems that create signals.

The SIGINT Seniors Group has worked together in the past on the monitoring of communications at the time of major events in Europe, such as the 2004 Olympics and the 2006 Winter Olympics as well as the 2006 Soccer World Cup.

Today, the SIGINT Seniors Group remains active and is increasing capabilities to encompass the Internet and digital communications.

Much of their work today is focused on combating international terrorism, primarily coordinating military signal exchanges among the fourteen member countries.

What is OpenVPN?

Using Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) is an ever-rising trend amongst security-aware companies and individuals.

Establishing a VPN connection creates a tunnel (usually over the Internet) and data flowing through is being encrypted before it reaches the destination.

There are many types of VPN connections available today. Amongst them are the obsolete PPTP VPN, slightly more secure L2TP VPN but also Site to Site VPN (based on IPSEC) and OpenVPN which we are going to discuss in this blog.

All of these types of VPNs aim towards the same goal – to secure your data over the Internet. VPNs are being used to create secure connections between company branches, but also to help individuals protect their data from potential hackers or overcome geo-blocking policies enforced by the less liberal governments over the world.

Nowadays, there’s a lot of talk of OpenVPN but how is it different from others? Moreover, why should you get OpenVPN?

What is it?

OpenVPN is an open-source software that helps keep your sensitive online data safe from hackers and strangers on the Internet.

OpenVPN uses SSL/TLS cryptographic protocols to establish an encrypted connection over the Internet, by exchanging pre-shared keys and certificates.

In a way, OpenVPN acts similar to other VPNs – you can use it to securely connect to other devices on the Internet. You can use OpenVPN to securely share information with others on the Internet.

Using OpenVPN is similar to you and other users in the peer-to-peer network accessing a secure network that no one else knows about. When VPN peers establish an encrypted connection they authenticate by using the security certificates and pre-shared keys. For example, it’s a good practice to exchange all VPN information over the email and pre-shared key over some other medium, like an SMS message.

Rise of OpenVPN

The OpenVPN project is what developed the idea of secure point-to-point connections that allowed users to surf freely without compromising their data.

The original author for the software is James Yonan and he released the initial version of OpenVPN in 2001. It was launched under the GNU GPL (general public license).

While OpenVPN Technologies offer a VPN service, the California-based company’s project is still free and open-source in nature. Many VPN users continue to use OpenVPN’s protocol over other kinds of encryption methods. What goals did it have?

Their OpenVPN software deploys a safe virtual network software that provides users with communication services that are reliable and secure. They aimed to do more than the conventional VPN by developing something that would blow their competitors out of the water but would cater to the web’s demand for next-level services.

How did it become popular?

Despite competing against various other VPN protocols, OpenVPN gained a steady foot because of its services.

It became very popular because there are free OpenVPN solutions.

Unfortunately, there is usually a profit on the mind, so a free OpenVPN service is most likely to be slow and sluggish, going over some obscure low-end server. Of course, you can boost your VPN performance by paying a subscription. It’s really hard to find trustworthy, reliable and free OpenVPN services. Most likely you will have to pay for a fast and reliable service. Of course, if you have any other findings, please let us know.

In addition, OpenVPN gives you the flexibility to access information through firewalls on restricted websites.

Its versatility is also a reason; it is designed to work with various operating systems such as Linux, iOS, Android, Windows, and macOS.

How does OpenVPN Work?

Peers who connect to each other through the VPN have to use a verification certificate, password or a pre-shared key.

This implies that the primary mode of using OpenVPN is by means of client-server communication.

The connection between both devices comprises two tiers; where the encrypted traffic is first directed to a server somewhere on the Internet, before being released to its destination.

After a successful VPN connection is established client’s IP address is being changed to the IP address of the OpenVPN service. This hides the client’s identity and protects their data from a breach.

For authentication, OpenVPN is using SSL/TLS protocols and is capable of traversing through firewalls and NAT-ed devices.

Technical Aspects of OpenVPN

Let’s mention some basic technical aspects of an OpenVPN:

You can use plugins and scripts from third parties to enhance features like authentication and logging. Many users prefer customized protection rather the standard package that OpenVPN offers. For this reason, they choose third-party add-ons to improve the browsing experience and increase security as well.
OpenVPN doesn’t support PPTP, L2TP, or IPSec. However, it does rely on SSL and TLS-based protocols of its own.
The encryption is what determines the connection quality between your device and the server.
It works on Windows-based platforms like 2000, Vista, XP, Windows 7, 8, and 10. It is supported on Android, Windows phone, Maemo, FreeBSD and Linux devices. This means that you can activate VPN on your phone as well, to protect sensitive data from hackers’ attacks. This versatile compatibility is a major reason why so many tech enthusiasts praise OpenVPN.

The Pros and Cons of Using OpenVPN

OpenVPN is a great security option for individual users who simply want to browse the web with more safety, without going through a VPN provider.

Despite having a great reputation with tech-savvy users, there are still some pros and cons to using OpenVPN, just like with every other VPN.

Pros

To start off, you should know that using OpenVPN means that you get plenty of room for extra configurations. You have an arsenal of security features you can implement, but you need to know what you are doing.
OpenVPN’s open-source setup is what allows it to have such a large and widespread network. This only powers it further and gives you better security and stronger protection from data theft and website restriction.
Unlike other VPNs, OpenVPN offers better encryption features so that you can even access content that has been sealed off by a firewall; you can work around them without being detected.
It continues to improve its features instead of using obsolete encryption algorithms. Hence, you are promised advanced levels of online security every time you surf the web.

Cons

We did mention that OpenVPN is different from the rest because of various configurations and advantages. However, you can’t really use these features unless you have the technical expertise that’s required.
Despite offering exceptional protection for smartphones, you should keep in mind that OpenVPN only recently launched their mobile VPN to users. Therefore, you can’t expect too much freedom while browsing on your mobile.
OpenVPN works well on its own and has standard protection with lots of other perks but if you want to make configurations on your own, you can’t rely on it. That’s because the software itself is dependent on third-party applications and plugins.

OpenVPN Router Integration

As mentioned, OpenVPN can be established from a user operating system, like a Windows PC or a phone.

It can be also implemented on a router level, encrypting the traffic for the whole network behind the router.

Many routers support the implementation of OpenVPN, but if you don’t have a powerful router, there is still a possibility you can flash your home router with an open-based firmware, such as DD-WRT or Tomato.

Creating an OpenVPN connection on a router level offers many advantages, one of them being more devices can use its benefits at the same time.

There are other benefits even though it can be more expensive (if you need to buy an OpenVPN capable router for example).

VPN Service at All Times

The first advantage is that you have online protection with a VPN service during all hours of the day, whenever you want.

The downside of a downloadable VPN is that you have to sign in each time you want to access. When the VPN is integrated to your router at home, it’s always activated so you don’t have to log in each time.

Keeps All Your Devices Safe

If you’re at home with a big family, you’re no stranger to having multiple devices being connected to the Internet at the same time.

That’s because everyone has their own smartphone, tablet or computer these days. Moreover, not everyone takes care to use a VPN to keep their information protected.

With a router and VPN integration, you don’t have to worry about the risk of a security breach when everyone who uses their device accesses the Internet through a secure VPN connection. Each device that connects to the Wi-Fi network can access the VPN without having to log in.

The Cost

Despite being an easy solution for secure web browsing, integrating OpenVPN with your router comes at a cost, both literally and figuratively.

The first is the actual cost of tethering the VPN to your router, which won’t be very expensive if you’re doing it yourself.

On the other hand, it will cost a little more initially if you hire a professional to do it for you. In some cases, there are pre-configured routers on sale straight from VPN providers.

The second issue is that the bandwidth will be affected especially if you’re sharing the router with an entire household worth of devices.

You’ll experience slower Internet speeds but this largely depends on what your Internet speed was in the first place.

Conclusion

Looking at all the facts and features of OpenVPN, it’s safe to say that it does offer more than what you’d expect.

These days Internet surfing is everything and people rely on it for information and entertainment; this means that they’re exposing their precious online data to various issues.

Not to mention, much of the content on the Internet is inaccessible because of restrictions placed by governments and other policing bodies, which ruins the whole point getting information. Opting for OpenVPN greatly reduces the risk of cyber theft, protects your identity online, and offers a free roaming experience.

The Best VPNs That Unblock Netflix

Netflix and Geo-Blocking

It’s no doubt that Netflix is the most popular paid streaming service in the world.

Netflix has opened its streaming services to 190 countries as of today, providing high-quality shows and movies that are produced in-house.

This enabled Netflix to attract over 130 million paying customers.

But not everyone has the option to watch all the shows.

The first possibility is that you won’t have any access to the streaming service.
The second possibility is that you would have access, but only to limited content.

Well, there is a third possibility…

Those with a VPN can fully unlock Netflix.

Why Get a VPN for Netflix?

Shows are geo-locked due to licensing issues – everyone knows this.

The concept of a VPN is simple; when you’re connected to a VPN, you’re essentially connected to a different computer elsewhere in the world.

With that in place, you are actually using the IP address in that region.

Such connections effectively “spoof”, or trick Netflix into thinking that you are in that country, thereby granting you access to geo-restricted shows.

Unfortunately, Netflix has been very notorious in banning IP addresses from VPN services.

This, in turn, makes your annual VPN subscription pointless. You’ve just wasted money on a product that doesn’t work.

The best VPNs unblock Netflix while providing all the security benefits. But this study is just about just Netflix, so let’s get down to our list of working VPN solutions for Netflix.

VPNs That FULLY UNLOCK Netflix

Despite the heavy ban, some premium VPN providers are still able to bypass Netflix restrictions.

This is due to two things:

Larger server count.
Frequent maintenance of servers.

These two points make it nearly impossible for Netflix to trace every single IP address that they use.

Some VPN providers even have dedicated streaming servers which they constantly refresh with new IP address to overcome restrictions.

Our global team at GoBestVPN tested and compiled the VPNs that work with Netflix for your viewing pleasure.

ExpressVPN

There are so many reasons why we listed ExpressVPN as the best “go-to” VPN for 2018-2019…

100% guaranteed Netflix access is one of them.

ExpressVPN is also one of those rare providers that would boldly claim that they can indeed bypass geo-restrictions.

Since ExpressVPN is also one of the fastest VPNs we have tested, streaming speeds are difficult to beat.

In case a server doesn’t work, you can report this to their customer service reps and they will fix it up in no time.

Not only do they have a constantly updated list of working VPNs for Netflix, but you can even contact their live chat support for help. They’ve assigned us a working server in under a minute.

By far, ExpressVPN is the most reliable way to have Netflix access.

Try ExpressVPN
or read our ExpressVPN review.

NordVPN

NordVPN is the biggest contender for ExpressVPN in the top spot.

In fact, we have considered NordVPN to be the best “no-brainer” VPN for 2018-2019.

In terms of server count, NordVPN easily has one of the most servers available with over 5,000 servers around the world.

This has allowed NordVPN to have numerous servers that can bypass Netflix restrictions easily.

More than that, they’re also able to do it with incredible speeds.

Try NordVPN
or read our NordVPN review.

Avast SecureLine

This VPN from the renowned cybersecurity firm, Avast, is a relatively new product.

Even with just a little over 50 servers, Avast’s dedicated streaming servers are able to overcome geo-restrictions.

More than that, if you’re the type of user who just streams on their phone, an annual plan for a mobile device just costs $19.99 a year or just $1.67 per month.

That’s easily one of the cheapest VPN to bypass Netflix.

Try Avast Secureline
or read our Avast Secureline VPN review.

CyberGhost

CyberGhost is one of the easiest to use VPNs in this list.

Not only is it home to almost 3,000 servers, but a lot of their servers are also successful in unblocking Netflix.

From the menus, you can specifically select that you want access to Netflix, and a working server will be assigned to you right away. Simple!

Try CyberGhost VPN
or read our CyberGhost VPN review.

VPNs That Might Unlock Netflix

Ivacy

If you can commit to a 5-year plan, Ivacy is able to unblock Netflix restrictions for just a little over a dollar per month on average.

Considering that you can have up to 5 simultaneous connections and even router support, this is the cheapest Netflix unblocker you can get.

Just hope that Ivacy can still unblock Netflix for the next 5 years.

PrivateVPN

Although this VPN service has less than a hundred servers, they still have a few that works with Netflix.

It’s not the fastest VPN service, but it still is more than able to stream at high quality.

What’s noteworthy about PrivateVPN is the incredibly cheap subscription at just a little over $3 per month!

If you’re on a really tight budget and want to take a gamble, here’s your chance.

Buffered VPN

Just like Avast SecureLine, Buffered VPN is one of those services with very few servers (under 50).

Yet, Buffered VPN can still bypass Netflix geo restrictions, which can be quite surprising.

It’s pricier than some of the VPNs on this list but they have a 30-day trial that you can use.

StrongVPN

StrongVPN states on their website that they have over 12,000 positive reviews from their users.

We were willing to give them the same positive review since this VPN can bypass Netflix’s geo-restrictions.

Not all servers work with Netflix, though. And this is probably something that their customer support can’t help you with.

Goose VPN

Goose VPN boldly advertises that you can binge watch from anywhere in the world.

We all know that pertains to Netflix.

More than that, Goose VPN also has native support for Android TV, which makes your Netflix binge more seamless than ever.

AstrillVPN

This VPN provider is proud to claim that they can bypass censorships, and that’s for good reason.

AstrillVPN was able to access region locked content on their servers and that includes Netflix.

This VPN service is priced a bit higher than the competition at over $8 a month. This is premium-VPN territory…

Why Does Netflix Block Content?

Netflix is a multi-million dollar business; apart from its operating costs, a huge chunk of their budget goes to licensing fees for shows.

Unfortunately, streaming rights to shows are not cheap and they have to appropriate their finances wisely.

Audience Count

Considering the amount of money Netflix has to spend on streaming rights, they have to consider the number of people watching a specific show.

If a movie or a series would rate poorly in a certain country, Netflix may opt to remove the show from the region or not offer it in the first place.

For example, Netflix Japan currently has the largest catalog among countries with the service.

This is largely due to their partnerships with local film and anime studios.

The Japanese content would not be of much interest to viewers in the US, the same way Netflix subscribers in Japan may not necessarily be a fan of some US shows.

Rights Exclusivity

Even if Netflix is the largest streaming service in the world, that does not eliminate competition at all.

There are multiple cases where some titles are being exclusively licensed to other streaming services like Hulu, or broadcasting networks in a specific country like BBC.

In this sense, there would be no way for Netflix to negotiate a deal.

Pricing

Producers are businessmen too, they know if there’s a demand for their shows in certain regions, and they know how to price accordingly.

If there’s a demand for a show in a region, licensing rights get jacked up.

In some cases, Netflix would opt out of licensing the shows to take the high cost in consideration.

If it doesn’t make financial sense, Netflix would rather choose to abandon the show.

Producers’ Decisions

In some cases, the show producers are the ones who are outright declining to grant rights for specific regions.

This is all part of their own business strategies and marketing research; Netflix respects that.

Free VPNs for Netflix

If you’re on the lookout for a free VPN for Netflix, you can stop the search party at its tracks.

This is a myth, a fairytale, a made-up nonsensical story; fabricated by the free VPN providers themselves.

Why?

They want to mine your data. They know you’re desperate to unblock Netflix with a free VPN.

Free VPNs do not unblock Netflix. You heard it here, folks.

Guarantee

Netflix has its reputation for being proactive in blocking IP addresses of VPNs that attempt to bypass its restrictions.

Also, note that Netflix probably does the minimal amount of effort to find VPNs – this is also an expense, and they just want to appeal to the license holders.

The VPNs on this list work with Netflix as of writing, but GoBestVPN cannot guarantee that these VPN providers will still have access in the foreseeable future.

Conclusion

If you’re in the market for a VPN that allows you to watch your favorite shows on Netflix, you should be aware that not all of them are able to do that.

Netflix will always be at war against VPNs and protect their licensing rights.

Do remember that the main purpose of a VPN is for Internet privacy and security, Netflix access is just an amazing byproduct of it.

For your own assurance, go give these VPNs a try and see which ones work best for your binging needs.

For simplicity’s sake, why not pick one of the top 3?

All VPN Protocols Explained (And When to Use Them)

Choosing between the seemingly endless list of VPNs available on the market is no easy task. And it’s not made any easier by the vast range of protocols used by VPN providers.

You want to choose a provider that employs up-to-date protocols. Older protocols are easily compromised so they don’t offer enough data security.

It’s no wonder you want to be aware of the different VPN protocols that exist. Not only that but you should know how they work and how they differ between each other.

By doing so you can avoid using a vulnerable VPN that doesn’t keep you as secure as it claims to.

What Are the Major VPN Protocols?

Why are there various VPN protocols? There’s an easy answer.

Like anything in tech, new protocols are constantly developed; ones that are better than older protocols. But that doesn’t mean new protocols replace the older ones. Both exist simultaneously.

Sometimes older protocols are better optimized for specific tasks. So depending on what you’re doing, you may actually want to use an older protocol.

Now, as mentioned, there are many different VPN protocols. Some are used more than others.

The 7 protocols we’ve listed below are the most popular. You’re likely to come across one of them when you search for a VPN.

1. Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol (PPTP)

Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol (PPTP) is one of the older methods of VPN encryption. It was designed by Microsoft during the 1990s for Windows 95.

Pros:

It is a convenient protocol for usage which requires low security.
It’s super simple to set up and provides fast speeds.

Cons:

Major security concerns which date back several years.
It should have been rendered obsolete years ago.

While it is less popular than it used to be, PPTP is still widely used today—especially with VPNs. And that’s despite the fact that it has a known vulnerability to the ASLEAP dictionary attacking tool.

The vulnerability has been known since 2004. Microsoft, to this date, has not released a fix. It’s natural to think that the vulnerability would have rendered PPTP obsolete…

PPTP is still widely used because it’s integrated with Windows, as well as Mac OS and Linux.

Clearly, PPTP should be avoided for modern use.

However, if you’re looking for a simple protocol and you’re not using your VPN for anything suspicious, go ahead and use PPTP.

2. OpenVPN

OpenVPN is used by most market-leading VPN providers. It’s highly reliable and a perfect solution when higher security and safety is needed.

Pros:

Super secure and open-source; minimal chance of data breaches and leaks.
It is constantly kept up-to-date by the community.
Ability to choose between UDP/TCP for either speed or reliability.

Cons:

Not supported by all devices.

The major downside of OpenVPN is it’s inoperability with some networking devices. You might want to, for example, set up your new flashy VPN on your home router but the router won’t support OpenVPN, leaving you with few options.

Created by James Yonan, OpenVPN is open-source and published under a GNU General Public License, meaning that everyone has access to its source code.

And thanks to its open-source nature, any security flaws are quickly unearthed by the public and dealt with. This also means that it’s not possible for malicious code to be added without the developer community finding out.

For general purposes & often enough security, OpenVPN is an ideal protocol.

3. L2TP/IPSec

L2TP—Layer Two Tunneling Protocol—is an extension of PPTP. It combines PPTP with Cisco’s Layer 2 Forwarding (L2F) Protocol. Because L2TP on its own does not feature any encryption, encryption is provided by Internet Protocol Security (IPSec).

Pros:

Super secure protocol which is used to transmit top secret information.
It’s a relatively newer protocol.

Cons:

Requires more overhead due to 256-bit encryption.
It’s relatively difficult to set up.

L2TP uses a 256-bit key. This is the same level of encryption used by organizations to transmit top secret information. If it’s good enough for classified information then it should be good for enough nearly all types of browsing.

However, it is vulnerable to attack when pre-shared keys are used. So don’t share your keys with anyone else!

L2TP is one of the newer protocols to hit the internet, and it is supported by Mac OS 10.3 and Windows 10.

If you don’t want anybody snooping on what you’re doing then a VPN which uses L2TP is a great choice.

4. IKEv2/IPSec

Internet Key Exchange v2 is another one of Microsoft’s own VPN protocols—developed with the help of Cisco. On its own, IKEv2 is nothing but a tunneling protocol, which facilitates the secure exchanging of keys and so it is paired with IPsec for encryption.

Pros:

Quick reconnection makes it the perfect protocol for mobile devices.
It’s rather lightweight and doesn’t have many overheads.

Cons:

Evidence has suggested that NSA exploits IKE flaws to get around IPSec.
To guarantee security, open source IKEv2 implementations need to be used.

Although IKEv2 is not one of the more popular VPN protocols it is used heavily for mobile VPNs. Why? Because it’s good at quickly reconnecting during a connection loss, and when switching networks (such as from WiFi to 4G).

Again, IKEv2/IPSec is good for general browsing when you want to guarantee privacy on the move. But this can only be done when an open source iteration is used because closed source iterations are vulnerable to snooping from the likes of the NSA.

5. SSTP

Secure Socket Tunneling Protocol (SSTP) is one of the most popular protocols. It’s used by almost every VPN in one form or another.

And why’s that? Because it’s been integrated with all of Microsoft’s operating systems since Vista. Which means it can easily be used alongside Winlogon for added security.

Pros:

Supported by Windows Vista and above, and Linux.
It is very secure due to its authentication and encryption.

Cons:

The code cannot be audited so its security is merely assumed.

SSTP uses 2048-bit SSL/TLS certificates for authentication and 256-bit SSL keys for encryption, making it extra secure. For this reason, it’s highly regarded by cybersecurity professionals.

The only problem is that SSTP is not open source. So the code can’t be audited.

SSTP is generally a sound choice for any type of activity, including torrenting, streaming, and hiding browsing activities.

6. SoftEther

SoftEther is an open-source and cross-platform protocol for VPNs. It is also one of the newest protocols, having been launched in 2014.

Pros:

PPTP speed, OpenVPN security and L2TP stability with P2P downloading.
It’s an all-in-one protocol which has everything you could ever want.

Cons:

It is relatively new and not widely available.
Does not have native support on any major operating system yet.

The protocol has received widespread positive coverage because it’s the same protocol as OpenVPN—SSL with 256-bit AES. And SoftEther retains amazing performance and high reliability.

256-bit AES with SSL is recognized around the world for being highly secure and well-encrypted. However, the main reason for SoftEther’s popularity is that it contains the same features as other VPN protocols, such as PPTP, L2TP, and SSTP whilst being ultra-lightweight and eliminating all disadvantages.

If you can get it you should choose SoftEther. It has everything all the other protocols have combined in one neat package.

7. WireGuard

WireGuard is another new protocol which is being lauded as possibly the “most secure” and “easiest to use” VPN solution anywhere on the market. It is quickly gaining traction.

Pros:

The most secure, simplest, and easiest to use VPN solution on the market.
Supports all operating systems, from Microsoft to CentOS and beyond.

Cons:

It has to be configured by the end-user and this can be quite difficult.

And it’s very popular amongst developers. WireGuard was initially released for Linux operating systems but it’s now compatible across multiple platforms.

It is super easy to use (if you know what you’re doing) and provides some of the strongest encryption on the market. It uses public encryption keys with VPN tunnel IP addresses. And a unique private key is used alongside a list of peers for each network interface.

WireGuard is another great all-in-one protocol. It provides high speeds with unbeatable security and is suitable for virtually anything.

Bottom Line: VPN Protocols Recommended…

Speed: By far, we adore SoftEther. You simply won’t find a faster protocol anywhere which uses the same grade of authentication and encryption.

Security: SSTP is best for security in our opinion. Although SoftEther and WireGuard have similar security, SSTP is widely available and doesn’t require any complicated configuration.

Downloading and Streaming: Anything other than OpenVPN (slow) or PPTP (lots of inherent security flaws which aren’t fixable) is a fine choice for downloading and streaming.

What is a Proxy?

One of the most common ways of circumventing a network is by using a proxy server. A proxy server is an intermediate node between the user and a site.

It’s like a vegetable strainer. Proxy servers allow water to pass through but make sure your broccoli doesn’t fall into the sink.

In addition to bypassing locks, some proxy servers ensure visitor’s anonymity. Your personal information remains safe since your real IP address won’t be logged by the website.

Using a proxy is like wearing a mask. Websites can’t know that you visited them. Instead of your IP, the site sees the proxy’s IP.

If you’re concerned about anonymity using a proxy is one of the finest methods to keep your privacy.

Or, maybe you’re someone who finds themselves IP banned from a site. Simply connect to a proxy server and you’ll be able to visit the site once again.

How Does a Proxy Work?: The Nuts and Bolts

Every computer has a unique IP address, which is akin to a name tag. The IP address enables websites to identify you. It tells them your country and region, your internet service provider, and some information about the personal computer you’re using.

Proxy servers are also assigned unique IP addresses. When you connect to a proxy you’re taking on the identity of the proxy’s unique IP address. While your unique IP remains hidden.

To connect to a proxy you need to configure a few settings in your browser. These settings dictate how you send requests to a site.

Once connected, every time you access a web page your computer will first contact the proxy server. And the proxy server will contact the website. That’s the middleman handoff that proxies take care of.

After connecting to the proxy all subsequent network connections will be made to the IP address of the proxy server.

Types of Proxy Servers: Shapes and Sizes

Here are the major types of proxy servers:

HTTP Proxies are designed to work with web pages. Websites will see that you’re accessing their site through a proxy. The data of the transmitted traffic is sent to the server. HTTP proxies are only used for browsing the web.
SOCKS Connection is intended for any applications that are running on an external server. For example, you can configure ICQ, IRC or an email client to run through a proxy server. Keep in mind that you need to set up a separate connection for each.
CGI stands apart. These proxy servers do not require a browser configuration. And they allow you to open a website, or other resources, directly through the CGI site. That means your anonymity is guaranteed to be safe. This method is also one of the easiest to get running. You don’t need technical knowledge.

Paid vs. Free Proxy Servers: A Showdown as old as the Internet

It may seem like it would be much faster to use free proxy servers. You can find many lists of free proxy servers through a simple Google search. Although, not everything is a simple as it might seem.

There is no guarantee that a free proxy server will maintain your anonymity. Nor can you determine just how anonymous the server makes you. Even still, free proxy servers rarely offer high speed and a stable connection.

The worst part? Free proxy servers typically don’t remain hidden from a competent system admin. So what happens? Those free proxy servers end up on a blacklist.

All these issues clearly lead to numerous inconveniences. If you want to use a proxy frequently, and with reliability, you’re better off with a paid proxy server.

Such servers are typically inexpensive. And the number of blacklists a paid proxy server is likely to be on should be minimal.
Keep one thing in mind when using a proxy server: network anonymity and an anonymizer are not the same things. It’s much more difficult to maintain your security when connected to a network that confuses addresses.

And no proxy server will make you completely anonymous. They simply complicate the process of uncovering your identity. Still, hackers are less likely to jump through multiple anonymous networks to attack you when there are plenty of unsecured connections to go after.

Benefits of Using a Proxy

Why do people use proxy servers? What benefits do you get when using them?

Let’s break it down:

Proxy servers are supported by the majority of web browsers.
Convenient traffic accounting and filtering (when integrated with antivirus software).
The ability to work with minimal rights on any operating system.
Significant increase in security since other protocols cannot access your network.

For the reasons mentioned proxy servers prevail in enterprises.

And this is despite the growth of relatively inexpensive hardware routers with the NAT function. But that’s because routers are not able to provide adequate control over your internet connection. Nor are they great at content filtering.

Hence, why so many people have turned to proxy servers.

After all, good proxy servers enable you to access any resource no matter where you are. Meaning you can stream Netflix outside the home. Which is great for travelers.

Or, if you have a corporate network using a proxy makes controlling traffic much easier. This is especially true if you’re extra-cautious about data leakage. Because when you connect to a proxy server you don’t reveal personal information nor are you transmitting data directly from your device.

But, remember, a proxy server will not protect from any criminal activities. Or any organization interested in monitoring online interactions, e.g. the government.

Risks of Using a Proxy

Many anonymous proxy servers are designed to track the activity of their users. So while they claim to be protecting you, they’re still collecting information about you.

Therefore, it’s best to avoid questionable proxies, especially free servers.

Remember, when you connect through your ISP to a website, or server, only that node can track your activities.

With a provider, your anonymity is guaranteed… to a point.

If a proxy provider works with government agencies your activity monitored in the interest of national security.

Then again it’s not just governments that spy on the data users transmit. Third-party organizations do as well, for their own purposes: often for advertising.

The main function of proxy servers is to filter information. To act as a buffer.

But an organization that provides anonymous proxy services can capture any user information that’s transmitted. This information can be linked to your account for further identity tracking.

Also, previously captured viewing patterns may allow snoopers to paint a picture of your online activity.

What’s the lesson?

Use a proxy with caution. Choose only proven service providers that provide the best security at an affordable price.

Proxy vs. VPN

Here is the difference between a proxy server and a VPN:

VPNs works on the top of the main Internet connection. All programs on the device are connected to the Internet via a virtual private network.
A proxy can be configured individually for a specific application. The proxy does not affect the connection between other programs.
The VPN connection is more secure because of different methods of encryptions. On top, there are additional IP and DNS protections in place.
The proxy connection is usually protected with encryption of HTTPS traffic.

When using a premium VPN service you don’t have to worry about information leakage. All network traffic is securely encrypted and your real IP address is hidden. You can find out which VPNs you can use from our list of the best VPNs.

Hence why VPN services are often more expensive than proxy servers.

But wait? What’s the difference between a VPN and VPS?

A Virtual Private Server (VPS) is a place to host your website. It gives you root-level access to the server while maintaining hardware sharing. Meanwhile, a Virtual Private Network (VPN) is a way to securely and anonymously surf the Internet.

VPNs and proxies serve a similar purpose. But they use different implementation mechanisms.

If you just want to access information that has geographic limitations then a proxy is what you need.

If you need full access to confidentiality and traffic encryption on top of what a proxy can offer, then the best solution will be using a VPN.

What is a VPN?

VPN Defined

A VPN or a Virtual Private Network is a service that acts as your gateway to a private and safe internet.

VPNs allow you to browse the internet on a secure connection on a different network somewhere else in the world.

What a VPN does in simple terms, is securely connect you to another computer with end-to-end encryption, and effectively use that computer’s internet connection.

Protecting Your Privacy

Everytime you browse the internet, your internet service provider (ISP) receives the request and connects you to whatever website you want to visit.

When your ISP receives the request, all of your online activities are in plain sight.

It’s not uncommon for ISPs to track your browsing history and the content you consume.

More than that, your ISP can hand off your data to whoever they wish (including government agencies).

When you browse the internet through a VPN, all of your online activity is encrypted.

In essence, your ISP will only know that you are connected to a VPN.

Your ISP cannot possibly identify what you are doing since a VPN encrypts all the data it sends and receives.

Securing Yourself with a VPN

In this digital age, it’s hard to live without any internet.

It has become human nature that we connect all of our devices on the internet whether we’re at home, at work, or even in public places.

Without the protection of a VPN, all of your web traffic is just out there in the open.

The absence of a private and secure connection can attract hackers and thieves. Usually, they are well-prepared with the right tools to have access to all of your data.

These hackers can access your files and accounts, know your activity or even steal your identity.

A VPN encrypts point-to-point connection; in effect, it will deter snooping of any kind.

VPN Encryption

We’ve been using the term “encryption” in this article, and we owe it to you to explain what it means.

The idea behind encryption is quite simple: every time you transfer any data, your computer turns that data into ciphertext.

Ciphertext is basically an unintelligible string of characters that a computer generates.

For example, a simple “hello” could possibly look something like “byFFI” after it’s encrypted. Try using tools like this to see how it works.

In essence, anyone who attempts to snoop into your activities will only see gibberish and useless data.

A VPN encrypts your traffic and the keys to decrypt it are only granted to your device alone.

VPN Uses

There is so much that a VPN does to provide access to the Internet in a secure way. The best VPNs meet all the checkmarks and can fill these requirements. From Netflix streaming to bypassing government censorship, this one tool is quickly becoming a must-have for everyone living in this digital age.

Unblock Geo-Restrictions

It isn’t news that some websites and content providers block content to certain regions due to copyright laws or licensing issues.

Since a VPN routes your connection to servers in different locations around the globe, you are granted an IP address from those locations.

The streaming giant Netflix, for example, restricts people living in the EU from accessing US-licensed content.

If someone living in Germany would like to watch The Office on Netflix, it would normally be impossible. It’s because The Office has an exclusive license in countries like U.S. and Canada only.

Now if that person uses a VPN and connects to a US VPN server, it would effectively hide their true location, make them appear like a US-based viewer and bypass Netflix’s geo-restriction.

Note: not all VPNs work with Netflix. Netflix is quick to blacklist VPN servers, so it’s highly recommended you use a premium VPN provider who provides Netflix-dedicated servers.

Peer-to-Peer File Transfers

A peer-to-peer network is a self-organized network, in which users can send and receive data to each other with their own computers acting as servers.

A computer can host a file and will send data over the network when anyone attempts to download it.

The P2P network is most often utilized by torrent clients when sharing files.

File sharing websites are known to have viruses, everyone should be aware of this and take measures to block harmful programs from their devices.

The other problem with P2P is that you are openly sharing your data with random strangers on the internet.

The biggest concern is a copyright holder could be snooping on your file sharing activities right now. They are notorious for going after individuals and suing them to bankruptcy.

Masking your IP with a VPN from the general public is your responsibility and yours alone.

Besides the security threats, there’s another problem. Some regions outright block P2P and torrenting. Like bypassing Netflix’s geo-restrictions, a VPN can also allow you to bypass country restrictions on P2P networks.

Safety in Public Networks

If you visit coffee shops, airports, etc. often and connect your devices to the publicly available WiFi networks, you are already at risk.

This goes for all public WiFi networks. We consider all of them to be risky.

You can never know if there is someone attempting to perform a “man in the middle” attack through a public WiFi connection, or if the person providing the WiFi connection is actually logging & spying the data going through their network. This opens up possibilities where your login credentials can be leaked.

In fact, it’s not that difficult at all for a hacker on the same network to see all your data.

A VPN will protect you from these prying eyes by encrypting your data.

Overcome Censorship

There are some ISPs that block websites on their network whether it’s a government mandate or not.

A classic example of this would be those living in China. The country has banned websites like Google, YouTube, and even Twitch.

Remember we went over how no one can read your encrypted data over a VPN? This applies to your own ISP too. And since they can’t read your data, they don’t know where you’re connecting to – meaning, you could have access to Google, YouTube, and Twitch for example in China.

Save Money on Flights

The reality is websites are able to detect where you’re connecting from with your IP.

Travel sites often use this information to determine the prices that they show you.

If you’re shopping in the U.S., you may see higher rates than a lower-income country like Argentina.

Another way for them to raise prices is if you’ve visited their website before. They will leave a “cookie” on your browser so when you re-visit their website, the cookie tells them you’ve been looking around. At this point, travel sites can bump up the prices knowing you’re ready to pull the trigger.

Airlines and travel sites are notorious for this activity; they know if you’ve been searching for flights they can raise the prices up and you’re still likely to buy them at a higher rate.

To save money on fights using a VPN, your first step is spoofing your location. You can also delete cookies and history from your browser. Make sure to connect to a VPN server in a lower-income country.

The differences are significant, in some cases, you can save hundreds of dollars on flight tickets.

Avoid Restrictive Networks

Restrictive networks behave in similar ways that governments censor websites.

Network administrators blacklist websites, such as adult-related or gambling sites. If you’re connected to a school network or company network, your traffic is most likely restricted.

A VPN will allow you to tunnel out of those restricted networks and access the Internet freely.

More importantly, these networks usually track your activity and monitor the sites you visit thereby taking away your privacy.

Using a VPN will not only give you Internet freedom. It will also protect your privacy.

Hide Your Identity

Let’s say you’re a political activist who covers very sensitive issues such as government scandals and the like.

It’s inevitable for the people you are exposing to try and find you. They will want to know who you are, try to talk to you, or do something far worse.

A VPN masks your identity and your location making you untraceable.

It’s a powerful tool to provide anonymity wherever you are.

Conclusion – The Internet is Not a Safe Place

The Internet is home to people who want to take away your information and steal from you. It’s a place full of trackers and governments will try to limit your freedom.

A VPN serves as your primary defense against hackers and intruders. By browsing the internet on secure, encrypted connections you can ensure no government agencies, employers, ISPs, or hackers are eavesdropping on your packets.

More than that, VPNs allow you to bypass internet restrictions. VPNs grant you a freer and more open Internet without compromising your online safety.

If you haven’t used a VPN yet, the perfect time to start is now!