A VPN or Virtual Private Network is at its core, encrypted. As with any type of security with technology there are tradeoffs in which you may sacrifice speed and usability for the utmost security.

VPN Encryption Types: A Walk through

The basic premise of a VPN is that your connection is tunneled through a server which then encrypts your data stream and assigns you a new IP that is nearly untraceable. There are various levels to this anonymity that will vary depending on the method of encryption offered by your provider and used by you, the consumer.

The lowest level of VPN encryption is PPTP or Point to Point Tunneling. This encryption protocol is the original level of encryption that is available on most VPNs. This encryption method can be used on nearly any device and is the simplest to set up and use. The downside is that it is also the least secure.

Layer Two Tunneling Protocol (L2TP)

L2TP is the next step of encryption on VPNs; it provides a high 128-bit or 256-bit encryption. As with PPTP, this encryption method is available for use on most devices but has a higher security than PPTP. This method of encryption strikes a fine balance between usability and security. Sadly it won’t work on every system so you will want to make sure that this method works with the device you plan to use it with. This method also has the added downside that you will probably end up paying more this offering than the standard protocol.

OpenVPN

OpenVPN is the beefiest of the three levels of data encryption but not come with some costs and limitations. This method will allow you bypass nearly any firewall and has the highest and most secure encryption of 256-bit. This method doesn’t work on most devices, which limits its usability, and is the most expensive option and requires special software to function on the few devices it works on. It goes without saying that you will want to confirm this method will function on your chosen device and may not be worth the raise in cost. The benefit of this method is that you will be almost completely anonymous and the most secure you can be, so if you require such levels of protection, this is best for you.

Plenty Of Choices For Anonymity

Below you will find a table that will allow you compare and contrast the top VPN providers to find the best fit for you. It is important to remember that while you may be extremely protected by your VPN you won’t be completely invulnerable. You should always take care to ensure a secure connection and if you suspect it isn’t stop using and disconnect immediately.

Rank	Provider	Starting Price	MoneyBack	Visit Website
	ExpressVPN	$6.67/month	30 Days
2	VyprVPN	$14.95/month	7 Days
3	IPVanish	$10.00/month	7 Days
4	Hidemyass	$6.55/month	30 Days
5	StrongVPN	$21/ 3 Months	7 Days