Over the previous few years, rising issues surrounding our web security have given approach to an enormous surge in VPN recognition. Immediately, VPNs can are available in many alternative kinds. Whereas conventional VPNs are most well-known, double VPNs are actually additionally out there on quite a few totally different suppliers. However what precisely is a double VPN, and the way can it defend you on-line?
What Is a double VPN?
In the event you’re utilizing a typical VPN supplier, akin to ExpressVPN, SurfShark, or ProtonVPN, you’re possible having your web information despatched by way of and encrypted by way of one server. Because of this your information goes by way of one layer of encryption solely.
Whereas this will nonetheless offer you a excessive degree of on-line safety, it may be improved upon by way of using a double VPN.
Because the title suggests, a double VPN gives customers with an additional layer of safety by utilizing two servers as a substitute of 1. So, once you hook up with the web by way of a double VPN, your information is being encrypted twice. Although this entails two servers, it isn’t the identical as utilizing two VPNs concurrently. Double VPNs hyperlink two servers from the identical supplier, whereas you’d should hyperlink two separate suppliers in case you needed to make use of two VPNs on the similar time.
This creates a pocket of security on your information, as will probably be encrypted on each ends of the channel, which means a cybercriminal may have a really onerous time accessing any information that’s but to be encrypted. This course of is also called VPN server chaining, or cascade configuration, and generally is a extremely efficient safety measure.
Nonetheless, two encryption layers aren’t all the time current in a double VPN. Whereas quite a few VPN suppliers provide two layers with their double VPN characteristic, others don’t (although your information will nonetheless be despatched by way of two servers in such circumstances). However in any case, a double VPN is designed to intensify your safety when on-line.
Nonetheless, double VPNs do include one main drawback.
The draw back of double VPNs
If a double VPN can offer you such a excessive degree of safety on-line, utilizing it’s a no-brainer, proper?
Nicely, not fairly. Although double VPNs can preserve your information supersafe, they arrive with one vital draw back: poorer connection speeds.
In the event you already use a daily VPN, you’ll have observed that your add or obtain pace decreases when it’s lively. As a result of your information is being despatched and encrypted by way of a distant server once you use a VPN, you’ll typically have to attend a little bit longer to attach. It’s possible you’ll discover that net pages take longer to load, or that you simply’re experiencing extra buffering than typical when streaming.
Sadly, that is simply how VPNs work, however the issue may be worsened additional by way of using a double VPN. It is because your information goes by way of two servers as a substitute of 1, which takes much more time. In case your connection speeds are already fairly sub-par with out using a VPN, utilizing a double VPN could cause numerous points, and will make your on-line expertise very irritating.
However this doesn’t imply that you must sacrifice your on-line safety for higher connection speeds. Double VPNs are extra suited to those that require a really excessive degree of on-line safety for particular causes. For instance, you might be a journalist attempting to guard your sources, or a person in a rustic that has strict web legal guidelines.
As a result of double VPNs may be so detrimental to your web pace, you must actually solely use one if it’s an absolute necessity. After all, anybody who makes use of a supplier with a double VPN characteristic can use one, however this may occasionally show to be extra of a frustration than a pleasure in case your speeds are hit that badly.
Nonetheless, in case you nonetheless really feel a double VPN could possibly be helpful for you, there are lots of suppliers on the market who provide this characteristic, together with:
- NordVPN
- ProtonVPN
- SurfShark
- Windscribe VPN
It’s value noting that, once you use a double VPN, you possible gained’t have the identical variety of servers to select from. So, in case you have a favourite VPN server that you simply typically hook up with, you might discover that it’s unavailable when your double VPN characteristic is lively.
Double VPNs generally is a nice choice for high-level safety
In the event you’re able the place you require ultra-high ranges of safety when searching the net, a double VPN could be a helpful addition to your common VPN connection. This may help you circumvent monitoring totally and add an additional layer of encryption to your valuable web information.
