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If you are new to the world of private networking, you may wonder, “What is PPTP?” Some of the best VPNs, after all, use this technology to achieve a more private and secure connection. So what exactly is PPTP, how does it work, and what are the benefits when choosing a VPN that uses this tech? Keep reading to find out everything you want to know.
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
PPTP stands for Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol if you are wondering what a VPN server is. PPTP technology helps with establishing a secure connection, so you won’t have to wonder why your VPN keeps disconnecting. PPTP technology is on the older side and has given birth to subcategories if you are wondering what L2TP is.
Insider Tip
Make sure you choose a VPN with plenty of connection and encryption options, with PPTP being the bare minimum.
This is considered a basic part of the VPN experience and is almost as important as understanding what a server address with a VPN is.
PPTP is a tried-and-true VPN server technology with a wide variety of benefits, though these benefits have been slightly overshadowed in recent years by L2TP and related technologies.
PPTP offers the best encryption and security when compared to all of the other ways VPNs work. This is because PPTP uses just a single encrypted tunnel to send information back and forth. In other words, this is a great way to mask your online activities and your IP address. While this simple and highly effective encryption method is great for some online tasks, it is not a fantastic choice for downloading files. Yeah, you guessed it, PPTP connections are pretty slow.
One of the primary functions of any VPN or DNS proxy server is to access geo-restricted content. PPTP technology was basically built for this, despite the reduction in connection speed. Still, if you are traveling and want to watch your favorite Netflix show, a PPTP connection is one of the better options in your VPN arsenal.
STAT: PPTP, operating on TCP port 1723, is one of the oldest VPN protocols still in use, having been around since Windows 95 and standard on all versions of Windows since. (source)
PPTP connections also increase your privacy and overall network security by masking your real IP address, though every VPN technology achieves this task. This is great for hiding your online activities from Internet service providers, hackers, and snoops of all kinds. As a matter of fact, PPTP connections offer increased privacy when compared to even L2TP connections due to the nature of a single-tunnel protocol.
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