Guides
What is VPN? | How to Connect | PPTP and OpenVPN | Which to Use
What is VPN?
A virtual private network (VPN) is a secure way of connecting to a private Local Area Network at a remote location to transport the network data packets privately, using encryption.
VPNs may also allow users to bypass regional internet restrictions such as firewalls, and web filtering, by "tunneling" the network connection to a different region.
How to Connect
PPTP and OpenVPN
The Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol (PPTP) is a method for implementing virtual private networks. PPTP uses a control channel over TCP and a GRE tunnel operating to encapsulate PPP packets.
OpenVPN is an open source software application that implements VPN techniques. It uses SSL/TLS security for encryption and is capable of traversing network address translators (NATs) and firewalls.
Which to Use
| Comparison between PPTP and OpenVPN | ||
|---|---|---|
| PPTP | OpenVPN | |
| Encryption | MPPE 128-bit | AES 256-bit |
| Protocol | GRE | TCP/UDP |
| Security | Moderate | High |
| Usability | Easier | Harder |
| Compatibility | OS Native Support | 3rd Party Support |
| PPTP and OpenVPN Support on Various Operating Systems | ||
|---|---|---|
| PPTP | OpenVPN | |
| Windows 7 | Native Support | Client Required |
| Windows XP | Native Support | Client Required |
| Mac OS X | Native Support | Client Required |
| iOS | Native Support | Jailbreak Required |
| Linux | Native Support | Native Support |