What are the latest trends and developments in VPN protocol design and implementation?

2 Common VPN protocols

There are many VPN protocols available, each with their own set of advantages and disadvantages. OpenVPN is an open-source and highly configurable protocol that uses SSL/TLS encryption and supports various cipher suites and authentication methods. It is considered to be one of the most secure and versatile protocols, as it can bypass firewalls and censorship, and adapt to different network conditions. However, it can be complex to set up and may require additional software or configuration on some devices. IKEv2/IPSec is a protocol that combines the Internet Key Exchange version 2 (IKEv2) protocol with the IP Security (IPSec) protocol, offering fast and secure encryption and authentication that can seamlessly switch between different networks and devices. However, it can be blocked by some firewalls and may not be compatible with some older devices or platforms. L2TP/IPSec is a protocol that combines the Layer 2 Tunneling Protocol (L2TP) with the IPSec protocol, providing simple security and stability that is compatible with most devices and platforms. However, it can be slow and inefficient due to double encapsulation and encryption, as well as easily blocked by firewalls. Lastly, PPTP is an old and outdated protocol that uses the Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol (PPTP). It is a fast but lightweight protocol that is compatible with most devices and platforms, but is very insecure due to weak encryption and authentication, as well as known flaws and exploits.

3 Emerging VPN protocols

Besides the common VPN protocols, there are also some new and innovative ones that are being developed and implemented by various VPN providers and researchers. WireGuard is a modern, minimalist protocol that uses state-of-the-art cryptography and a simple design to achieve high performance, security, and reliability. Lightway is a proprietary protocol created by ExpressVPN, which is lightweight and fast with AES-256 encryption and ChaCha20-Poly1305 authentication. NordLynx is another proprietary protocol created by NordVPN which uses WireGuard as its base, but adds some additional features and enhancements to improve its functionality and compatibility. However, both Lightway and NordLynx are not open-source and may not be compatible with some devices or platforms.

4 VPN protocol challenges

VPN protocols are constantly evolving and improving, but they also face challenges and limitations that can affect their performance, security, and usability. For example, some VPN protocols are easier to detect and block by firewalls, ISPs, or governments than others. This can prevent users from accessing restricted or censored content in their location. Additionally, some VPN protocols may not be compatible or interoperable with different devices, platforms, or networks. This can cause conflicts or errors with other applications or protocols. Furthermore, some VPN protocols may be less performant and efficient than others in terms of speed, bandwidth, latency, or resource consumption. To bypass obstacles, optimize performance, and enhance efficiency, VPN providers and users may need to use obfuscation techniques, stealth servers, alternative ports, standardization, customization, cross-platform support, compression acceleration, or load balancing.