L2TP vs. PPTP: Which VPN Protocol is More Secure?

Are you interested in using a VPN? Before utilizing a VPN service or creating your VPN, you must select a protocol. Sometimes, a VPN service will let you choose between different protocols. A VPN protocol regulates the VPN service’s stability, tunneling, and encryption. Almost all VPNs support two well-known tunneling technologies, PPTP and L2TP.

You can select the VPN service that most closely matches your needs by learning which devices are compatible with the various VPN protocols by making their comparisons. We have evaluated the PPTP and L2TP by making an objective VPN protocol comparison below. You can find the best VPN protocol and the considerations for choosing a VPN protocol here.

What is L2TP?

VPN technology, such as Layer 2 Tunneling Protocol (L2TP), transmits data over IP networks. It describes the steps involved in moving data between locations. The Layer 2 Forwarding Protocol was developed to replace the PPTP method of point-to-point tunneling.

An L2TP connection offered a higher level of security and dependability at the time when used with IPSec. IPSec improves L2TP’s security and usability for location switching and anonymization. The IPSec encryption protocol offers the necessary method for shielding tunneled data.

The L2TP Protocol’s Benefits

Below are the benefits of the L2TP protocol;

The L2TP protocol is considered secure when used with IPSec.
L2TP is very easy to set up due to its superb compatibility.
It is compatible and has built-in Windows and macOS operating systems support.
It is better suited to firewalls because it uses the UDP protocol.
L2TP is far more secure than PPTP. As a result, L2TP is always preferable to TCP.

Disadvantages of L2TP

The drawbacks of L2TP are as follows;

L2TP excels at data security rather than circumventing geo-restrictions and censorship. This is because L2TP communicates via UDP, which is easier to block.
The performance of L2TP is subpar. Slower VPN connections may be the result of increased CPU usage.

How Safe is an L2TP VPN?

It is dangerous to use a pure L2TP VPN. So a VPN reroutes traffic without encrypting it. Therefore, it is still possible to observe and track user behavior online.

Verify IPSec support in the L2TP VPN you’re using. Then and only then will a VPN be able to offer secure tunnels. L2TP/IPSec is generally secure, but other solutions offer more security and speed.

What is PPTP?

A networking standard called the Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol (PPTP) offers data packet encapsulation for encryption and creating a secure direct route between network nodes. Point-to-point communications are encapsulated within the TCP/IP protocol by PPTP VPN for a more dependable internet connection.

Direct connections between two network nodes are common, enabling communication and packet exchange. One of the two networks that comprise PPTP systems is a computer that connects to another remote location.

The PPTP Protocol’s Benefits

The advantages of PPTP are given below:

PPTP, the first VPN protocol to receive official recognition, is compatible with Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux.
PPTP is a great deal simpler to use than L2TP. The Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol makes it easy to create a virtual private network.
You can avoid the hassle of configuring it because Windows supports PPTP by default.

Disadvantages of PPTP

Below are some drawbacks of PPTP that should be considered:

PPTP cannot detect data tampering while in transit or verify the source’s reliability because it lacks data origin verification.
Performance problems with PPTP are more common in shaky networks than with L2TP.
Your security is jeopardized when using Point-to-PPTP instead of L2TP because IPSec encryption is absent.

How Safe is PPTP?

Although untrue, governments and cybercriminals have used PPTP’s vulnerabilities and decrypted encryption keys to access sensitive data. Utilizing PPTP, MPPE is used to encrypt data. Hackers conduct DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service) attacks, bit-flipping attacks, and brute-force assaults using the MPPE’s numerous known vulnerabilities.

Difference Between L2TP & PPTP

Below are the differences between L2TP and PPTP;

Factors	L2TP	PPTP
Usage	It is used in conjunction with a VPN client, username and password, server address, and pre-shared key.	It has an integrated client, a username, a password, and a server address.
Security	The data is completely encrypted, so it is very secure.	The encryption is not very strong, so it’s not very secure.
Encryption	256-bit encryption	128-bit encryption
Speed	Slower speed	Faster speed
Supported Devices	Works with Windows, Mac, Android, Linux, iOS, and routers.	Suitable for all gadgets, including Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS, routers, etc.
Stability	It is extremely stable and works on all devices, networks, and platforms.	When compared to L2TP, it is a lot more unstable, but it is compatible with Wi-Fi hotspots.

What is the Best VPN protocol?

Choosing between PPTP and L2TP depends entirely on what you want to accomplish with a VPN. Although PPTP is a great speed alternative, other security enhancements outpace it by a wide margin. L2TP is a better option if you’re looking for stability in a VPN because it provides a high level of protection and encryption that hackers will find difficult to penetrate, despite being simple to set up.

L2TP fortifies its security system with an IPsec authentication suite, making it more difficult for hackers to breach. L2TP doesn’t offer many possibilities for harmful attacks or weaknesses. The best option for further security features like pairing with IPsec is L2TP.

Although L2TP is the superior option when comparing PPTP vs. L2TP, PPTP may be used if speed is your primary concern when selecting a VPN.

Conclusion

This comprehensive comparison of PPTP and L2TP provides a thorough analysis to help you choose between the two protocols. Buyers frequently consider VPN tunneling and encryption when choosing the best VPN protocol to secure their connections.