The increase in communication technologies besides supporting effective data transfer, it also paves the way for online data thefts. Many countries monitored the online traffic with their own regulatory bodies such as Government communication headquarters for the U.K., NSA for America, Great Firewall of China, Central Monitoring System for India, GEMA for Germany. These systems not only capture our privacy and form a threat to our safety. The anonymity is completely gone when we are being watched by such watchdogs of online security and safety. The only workable solution to this problem is to get the best-encrypted VPN for ultimate online safety.
What is VPN Encryption?
Encryption is the process of encoding the data of the sender with a key which is known as the ‘encoder’ and decoding the data on the receiver side with the same or with a different key known as the ‘decoder’. Virtual Private Networks (VPN) follows a set of protocols that provide instructions on how to perform encryption for a particular network. The best-encrypted VPN can be chosen by the protocol and encryption standard it uses along with other security features. Some of the most widely used VPN protocols are a Point-To-Point-Tunnelling protocol (PPTP), Layer-Two-Tunnelling-Protocol/ Internet Protocol Security (L2TP/IPSec), and OpenVPN which is an Open Source protocol. With the careful examination of encrypted VPNs, we can easily pick the one to suit our security needs and safety of transactions.
How Encrypted VPN Works?
Public networks face a variety of attacks like Wi-Fi spoofing, Password Hacking, HoneyPot attacks, Firesheep, etc. To be free from such attacks and to enjoy the safe streaming and browsing services of the internet, we need an encrypted VPN. VPN encryption helps us to securely access the private networks and share the contents remotely through a public network. It can protect us from various online frauds and can offer us reliable connections. Its functionality is more like a WAN (Wide Area Network) but it is deployed in a private network as per their needs. A VPN forms a private tunnel and sends our data through it after encryption and the quality of encryption depends on the following factors.
Encryption Algorithm used or the Protocol
It is the step-by-step procedure that instructs the server on how to complete the encryption process. The various VPN protocols available are PPTP, L2TP/IPSec, OpenVPN, SSL and TLS, and SSH. PPTP, L2TP/IPSec, and OpenVPN protocols mainly concentrate on encrypting the data we send and give little importance to the tunnels. But Secure Socket Layer (SSL) and Transport Layer Security (TLS) exchange digital certificates to ensure the cryptographic parameters of their sessions. This is mainly useful in online retail transactions and is referred to as Hand Shaking protocols. Secure Shell (SSH) is another protocol that focuses on encrypting the tunnel through which the data passes.
Encryption Key
A VPN either uses asymmetric-key encryption or public-key encryption. The former uses the same key for both encrypting and decrypting the message. The latter uses a public-private key pair in which the private key is used to encrypt the message and the corresponding public key is used to decrypt it.
Key-length
The key-length determines the complexity level of the encryption process and the more the length is the safer it is. Best encrypted VPNs often use the military-grade 256-bit keys in the encryption process.
How to Select an Encrypted VPN?
The best-encrypted VPNs can be identified by its features that truly offer security and privacy in all of its operations. Such VPNs support protocols such as PPTP, L2TP, OpenVPN, and handshaking protocols. Among all of these, the OpenVPN is recommended by most technologists as it is an open-source that has higher security with low processing overheads. Though a 128-bit encryption key offers faster connections than a 256-bit key, the latter is more secure and does not allow Brutal Force attacks.
Apart from these factors, we should also look for the compatibility of the VPN with different Operating Systems and a variety of devices. It should also be able to support concurrent devices access as it helps one person to use VPN for streaming through a smartphone, and, the other person may browse the internet through a tablet with the same VPN connection. It is a better idea to go for a VPN with no logging policy and that supports anonymous payments such as the Bitcoin. Few VPNs offer double encryption that is again the second level of security for our data. It is recommended that we should look at all these factors before choosing an encrypted VPN.
5 Best Encrypted VPN Services
1. NordVPN
- Double encryption for added security
- Automatic kill switch
- A variety of platform support
- Six simultaneous connections
- Zero log keeping policy of internet activities
- 3-Day free trial
2. ExpressVPN
- Unlimited Bandwidth with Ultra Speed
- Provides all VPN protocols OpenVPN (TCP, UDP), L2TP-IPsec, SSTP, and PPTP
- Dedicated VPN Apps for Android & iOS
- High-End Security with OpenVPN 256-bits
- Zero log keeping policy of internet activities
- 3 simultaneous connections
3. Surfshark
- AES 256-Bit Network Encryption
- Chrome Extension Available
- Kill-Switch functionality
- A variety of platform support
- Zero log keeping policy of internet activities
- Unlimited simultaneous connections
4. CyberGhost
- Uses AES 256 Encryption
- Supports OpenVPN, L2TP/IPsec, and PPTP
- DNS & IP Leak Protection
- Uses 2048 Key & MD5 Authentication
- Zero log keeping policy of internet activities
- Up to 7 Simultaneous Connections
5. Private Internet Access
- Offers all Protocols PPTP, OpenVPN and L2TP/IPSec including SOCKS5 Proxy
- IPv6 Leak Protection & DNS Leak Protection
- Kill-Switch functionality
- Encrypted Wi-Fi Protection
- Zero log keeping policy of internet activities
- 10 simultaneous connections
Why Are Encrypted VPNs best?
If we use VPN with poor quality encryption or no encryption at all, the necessity of using a VPN is not solved at all. There is no point in using a VPN and letting the hackers capture our data. Rather, we can browse without a VPN or we can just go for proxies if we do not care about the safety of our data. Effective encryption, when combined with a VPN, forms a highly secured tunnel that could offer safer access, uninterrupted connections, unlimited speeds, and fastest-streaming services and can evade geo-restrictions with no global boundaries.
Conclusion-5 Best Encrypted VPN Services
The VPN encryption determines the security, safety, and privacy of our data being shared over the internet. All the above-mentioned VPNs are said to be the ones with excellent encryptions and those offer connections with less or no overheads. The prices of those VPNs depend on the other features they offer and we can always browse for the additional services. Almost all of them support security features such as Internet Kill Switch, DNS Leak protection, Automatic Server Switch with connection failures,. So when safety is our major priority, then it is a wise decision to pick a VPN directly from the list.