PPTP : A Balanced Approach to VPN Protocols L2TP/IPsec
Find out more about the benefits and drawbacks of PPTP use.
What is PPTP?
PPTP, short for Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol, is one of the oldest VPN protocols still in use, running on TCP port 1723. It was introduced with Windows 95 and has been included in every version of Windows since. Microsoft developed PPTP to encapsulate another protocol, PPP (Point-to-Point Protocol).
PPTP remains popular due to its simplicity, ease of setup, and fast performance, making it ideal for tasks that prioritize speed, such as audio and video streaming, especially on older or slower devices with limited processing power.
Despite these advantages, PPTP suffers from significant security flaws. The authentication protocols it typically uses, MS-CHAP-v1/v2, are insecure and have been repeatedly compromised in security assessments since PPTP’s inception.
Because of these vulnerabilities, PPTP is not recommended for situations where security is a concern and is not supported by VPN apps
- Fast
- Easy to set up
- Supported on older devices with limited processing power.
- Least secure
- Vulnerable authentication protocols (MS-CHAP-v1/v2).
- Not recommended for sensitive applications.
- Unsupported by many modern VPN services like ExpressVPN.
Other VPN protocols
Alongside offering a range of standard protocols, VPNs developed Lightway to surpass them in speed, reliability, and security. Try it out to experience the difference. Learn more about Lightway.
If you’re unsure which VPN protocol to pick, the VPN app can automatically choose the best option for you.
