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Can VPN encryption be broken? What is the safest VPN?
4 min. read
Updated onOctober 4, 2023
updated onOctober 4, 2023
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When we think aboutVPNs, most of us picture these awesome tools that magically keep ourprivacysafe. Although half of this sentence is true, there’s the other, less-known part of how things really are.
VPNsare very efficient at routing and encrypting traffic so that it doesn’t fall in the wrong hands. Well, actually it can still fall in the wrong hands, but since it’s encrypted, it would be virtually useless.
If you know a thing or two aboutencryption, it shouldn’t come as a surprise thatVPNsuse complex algorithms. Let’s find out more about howVPNswork and keep your data private.
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How does a VPN work?
Before talkingencryption, it’s worth understanding how aVPNsucceeds in protecting your data. Usually, your data is handled by your ISP, which is the middleman between you and the world wide web.
AVPNencrypts your traffic and routes it through a secure tunnel that your ISP can’t access.
After you install aVPNclient on your PC, all your traffic will first go through it. Unless you use split tunneling, which changes things a bit.
Once your traffic gets to the client, it gets encrypted and pushed through the secure tunnel.
After passing through the tunnel, it reaches theVPNserver, which decrypts it and sends it toward its destination.
The website/server/host generates a response and sends it back to you. Only now, traffic gets encrypted by the server and decrypted by the client, before you receive it.
All you need to know about VPN encryption
We’ve already mentionedencryptiona few times, so you probably understand that it’s of utmost importance. But how does it work?
First of all, it’s worth mentioning that mostVPNsuse AES-256 forencryption. This is also known as the Advanced Encryption Standard or the Rijndael algorithm.
When it comes toVPNs,encryptioninvolves taking regular traffic, and coding it so that nobody can make anything out of it. Unless they have theencryption key, that is.
If you’ve been paying attention earlier, you’ll know that yourVPNclient and server handle encryption and decryption.
Thus, both you and the service you’re trying to access through aVPNhave access to the unencrypted data.
Anyone standing between these two points (VPNclient/server) will only see encrypted data.
Ranging from passwords and usernames to private messages and emails, everything between you and theVPNexit point will be kept on the hush.
Of course, in reality, things are way more complicated than this, but we wouldn’t want to overburden you with technical gibberish such as symmetric and asymmetric key exchanges, or integrity algorithm check-ups.
Can VPN encryption be broken?
Truth be told, anything can be hacked, but brute-forcing a complex algorithm could take trillions of years. This number is so large, you can’t even wrap your head around it properly.
You couldn’t pull that off even with a supercomputer. Not even all high-end PCs on Earth couldn’t pull it off. So, the answer is no, AES-256 encryption (generally used byVPNs) can’t be cracked.
What’s the safest VPN I can use?
While we agree that Kape Technologies’ PIA is one of the most secureVPNson the market, there are other services that provide military-grade encryption standards.
Private Internet Access
Take a look at ourbest VPN recommendations, for instance. Regardless of what you decide to stick on, those services will make sure your traffic is securely encrypted using state-of-the-art security standards.
VPN encryption can’t be cracked
All things considered, even though it’s possible to break AES-256 encryption, it would take trillions of years to accomplish.
Considering that technology is ever-evolving, chances are you won’t even have this algorithm when the process would be complete.
So, to spare us all the headaches, it’s simpler to say that it’s impossible. Because, for so many reasons, it’s not wrong to assume so.
AVPN can get hacked, but usually, it’s done in other ways that don’t imply cracking a military-grade algorithm. So you can rest assured that it most likely won’t happen in this lifetime.
More about the topics:Cybersecurity,encryption,VPN
Vlad Constantinescu
Vlad might have a degree in Animal Husbandry and Livestock Management, but he’s currently rocking anything software related, ranging from testing programs to writing in-depth reviews about them.
He spent 3-4 years as a software editor at Softpedia and another year as a VPN specialist before he landed his current job as an author at Windows Report.
In his free time, Vlad enjoys playing guitar, doing jigsaw puzzles, researching cybersecurity, and even having a good read on rainy days.
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