Different protocols vary in their speed and security. Many are considered obsolete and not secure, which is why they are rarely used – like PPTP or L2TP, which we do not offer in any of our apps.
VPN protocols by Surfshark
Advanced technologies for secure internet connection
- IKEv2 - the fast favorite on mobile OS
- OpenVPN - a reliable open-source classic
- Shadowsocks - top choice in restrictive countries
What are VPN protocols?
VPN tunneling protocols are a technology that helps VPNs safely send your data through the internet, which is necessary if you want to browse websites, use social media, or do just about anything else online.
VPN protocol vs. tunneling protocol
A tunneling protocol is simply a way to transfer information from point A to point B. It may offer an underlying layer of encryption, but it is not considered secure.
A VPN protocol does so much more – it makes sure to authenticate data, offers end-to-end encryption. It may even hide VPN traffic with the help of obfuscation, as well as offers perfect forward secrecy, and key exchange via secure channels, among other things. While it may have a tunneling protocol inside of these operations, it handles most of what you need your VPN to do and does it safely.
Surfshark VPN supports these protocols:
IKEv2
IKEv2 (short for Internet Key Exchange version 2) is a fast and secure protocol that tends to work best when the server you’re connecting to is physically nearby. It was developed by Cisco and Microsoft security engineers and it is very popular among mobile users.
Availability: MacOS, Android, Windows, iOS and Fire TV applications.
OpenVPN
OpenVPN is an open-source protocol, which means that it is constantly being developed and improved by security professionals around the world. It’s fast, secure, and often works best for long-distance connections or desktop operating systems.
Availability: Android, Windows, iOS, Fire TV and Linux applications.
Shadowsocks
Shadowsocks is an encrypted proxy that was designed specifically to help people overcome the restrictions of the so-called Great Firewall of China. It works great for that purpose, but if you are not in a restricted country, you’re better off using either OpenVPN or IKEv2.
Availability: Android and Windows applications.
How to set up the VPN protocol of your choice in any Surfshark app
STEP 1
Open your app’s Settings
STEP 2
Go to the Advanced section
STEP 3
Select your protocol. That’s it!
What about others?
L2TP & PPTP
Outdated and not secure tunneling protocols
L2TP, sometimes available as a slightly improved L2TP/IPSec, and PPTP are both old-school tunneling protocols. They are obsolete and do not offer adequate security, which is why we highly recommend to avoid both of them.
Wireguard
A new kid on the block
WireGuard is one of the newest protocols, currently unavailable in any of the Surfshark apps. It claims to be fast and secure, however, further testing is needed to determine whether these claims hold up.
FAQ
What is the fastest VPN protocol?
Currently, Wireguard is considered to be the fastest protocol. However, as it is rather new, it still needs a lot of testing and field practice to evaluate whether it is as reliable as you need it to be.
What is the safest VPN protocol?
A VPN protocol needs quite many additional security elements in order to achieve the level of security that can be considered adequate. Therefore no VPN protocol on its own can be crowned as “the most secure”, simply because there are a lot of moving parts to it.
How do I know which protocol is the best for me?
As long as you’re not using old, outdated protocols, you’re good! If you want the best protocol for a specific scenario, let the apps handle it and opt for automatic protocol selection.
