What is PPTP VPN Protocol?

Point-to-point tunneling Protocol (PPTP) is the oldest and most stable method for implementing VPN (virtual private networks).

PPTP network protocol is used for a secure connection from a remote client to a private server and remote data transfer over an untrusted network, such as the Internet.
Although today, PPTP has been replaced by more advanced and secure protocols like WireGuard, L2TP/IPsec, IKEv2/IPsec, and Open VPN due to its security issues, its speed and simple setup still attract users.

5 Golden Points about PPTP

1- PPTP is still supported by almost every VPN provider.

2- The basis of today’s VPN protocols is formed by PPTP.

3-  PPTP is unique in having some advantages.

4- Old and slow devices with limited processors work better with PPTP.

5- PPTP is the fastest and easiest to set up VPN protocol.

What is PPTP VPN protocol used for?

PPTP protocol VPN is used to establish a secure and private connection between a remote server and a device over the Internet, and its Fast speed is ideal for VPN torrenting, HD streaming, and other activities in which speed is essential.

How Does PPTP Work?

PPTP works by creating a secure data tunnel between two network points through encapsulating PPP packets during data transmission over the internet.

PPP is a data link layer communication protocol to connect two routers without any host.

Also, tunneling is needed to transfer data from one network to another. A tunnel is created around the transferred data to repackage and then sent through the internet.

Tunneling is insufficient to protect data; hence, a VPN is used to encrypt the information. As you know, VPN (Virtual Private Network ) keeps you safe while sending and receiving data across the internet.

The below image helps you to understand the VPN point-to-point tunneling concept better.

Once a PPTP connection is established between the client and the server, the PPTP protocol supports control messages and data packets. Let’s see what are these two types of information.

Control messages: They are used to manage the VPN connection, including shutting it down when necessary.

Data packets: Data packets contain all the information that goes across the tunnel. The information includes all the sites you connect to and your actions on them.

What is the difference between voluntary and compulsory tunneling in pptp?

Voluntary is one type of tunneling initiated by the client/user; Unlike it, Compulsory Tunneling is initiated by the server, not the client.

Voluntary does not need a router or any other hardware, network device, ISP, or bridge support to function. While Compulsory is initiated by the PPTP server, it is necessary to support the router and network access server.

Voluntary tunneling takes place when VPN services are being used, and Compulsory tunneling is mostly used in corporate environments to ensure that all company devices are protected by the VPN network.

PPTP General Technical Prerequisites

PPTP Architecture: To function, PPTP relies on a client-server model.

Protocol Support for communication: The encrypted tunnel established between the PPTP VPN client and server uses TCP port 1723 and IP port 47 for communication, while encapsulation employs the General Routing Encapsulation (GRE) protocol.

Data encapsulation layer: OSI is an abstract model of communication between protocols and network devices.

Authentication Mechanism: To connect to a server, PPTP only requires the server address as well as a username and password.

 Encryption keys support: PPTP supports encryption keys up to 128 bits and uses Microsoft Point-to-Point Encryption (MPPE).

What OSI model layer supports PPTP?

The network communication takes place at OSI Layer 2. The data link layer is the second of seven layers in the OSI model, and it is where VPN protocol PPTP operates.

Is PPTP UDP or TCP?

TCP

PPTP uses TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) to control and handle communications.

What port is PPTP?

PPTP VPN uses TCP port 1723 for the control channel and relies on protocol 47, Generic Routing Encapsulation (GRE), to encapsulate PPP packets during data exchange.

How do I use PPTP port?

You will use the PPTP port to configure the PPTP server and enable the PPTP VPN tunnel on your device.

You need to enter the PPTP server’s port number to create a PPTP VPN connection in the device’s network settings.

Also, if your system has a firewall, you should configure the firewall to allow PPTP tunnel traffic on the PPTP port. (Open TCP port 1723 and protocol 47 if default PPTP settings are unchanged.)

PPTP Advantages

• PPTP is a very fast protocol due to its low level of encryption.
• PPTP is extremely simple to set up and configure, even for non-technical users.
• PPTP is cross-platform, and various operating systems support PPTP, including Windows, Linux, iOS, Android, Tomato, and DD-WRT.

PPTP Disadvantages

• PPTP is insecure and vulnerable to cybercriminals attack.
• Poor encryption in PPTP makes it unsuitable for securing internet data and traffic.
• PPTP does not work with NAT, hence a router with PPTP Passthrough is required.
• PPTP is Vulnerable to the Firewall block.
• PPTP is no longer supported on macOS Sierra and iOS 10, and newer versions.

PPTP vs. Other VPN Protocols

There are various protocols that offer different levels of encryption and authentication. Previously on OperaVPS, you have read about different Protocols of VPN.

Let’s compare PPTP to popular VPN protocols. Compare the points to see which one is the winner of the comparison on each part.

PPTP vs. WireGuard

Compared to PPTP, WireGuard is a safer and more modern VPN protocol, and it surpasses PPTP in terms of security, speed, and performance by employing advanced encryption techniques.

PPTP vs. OpenVPN

Which is better PPTP VPN or OpenVPN?

OpenVPN is better in terms of security, compatibility, and overall performance.

OpenVPN is an open-source and versatile VPN protocol with advanced encryption that prioritizes security. Although OpenVPN may be slower than PPTP, it is highly configurable and emphasizes compatibility and security.

PPTP vs. SSTP

SSTP is a more modern protocol than PPTP, developed by Microsoft, and it provides a higher level of security than PPTP by using SSL/TLS for encryption. However, regarding speed and compatibility, PPTP outperforms SSTP because SSTP is only integrated with Windows environments.

PPTP vs. IPSec

Is IPSec better than PPTP?

Yes, IPSec is generally considered more secure and superior to PPTP.

PPTP excels in ease of setup and speed compared to IPsec, but it has security vulnerabilities and is an older protocol. The strong encryption mechanisms and authentication of IPsec have transformed it into a secure solution for protecting information, especially for remote access.

PPTP vs. L2TP/IPSec

Which is better PPTP or L2TP?

L2TP/IPSec is a more secure protocol than PPTP due to double encapsulation, additional security features such as 256-bit encryption, and emphasis on certificates for authentication. Both protocols are similar in terms of cross-platform compatibility, but PPTP is faster.

PPTP vs. IKEv2/IPSec

IKEv2/IPSec is designed to be secure and efficiently re-establish connections in case of network disruptions, making it the best choice for mobile users who prioritize reliable mobile connections. On the other hand, PPTP is less secure but faster.

PPTP vs. SoftEther

SoftEther is safer against cyberattacks than PPTP because of its strong encryption and authentication procedures, and also, in terms of speed, it is the winner of this comparison. However, SoftEther has less support than PPTP and isn’t built into any operating system.

What is better than PPTP?

Newer protocols, such as L2TP or OpenVPN, can be considered better than PPTP.

These protocols are more secure than PPTP due to stronger encryption algorithms and authentication methods. Additionally, they provide an optimal combination of speed and security.

What is PPTP in router?

Enabling PPTP in the router creates a secure connection (tunnel) between a private network (home or workplace router) and a remote device to protect data against interception and eavesdropping over the internet.

Is PPTP VPN safe or insecure?

PPTP is considered insecure due to encryption using outdated and vulnerable algorithms.
PPTP relies on Microsoft Point-to-Point Encryption (MPPE) for encryption, which is now highly vulnerable to security threats and attacks.

PPTP’s weak encryption causes it to be broken fast. Also PPTP is not equipped with strong mutual authentication and has known security vulnerabilities often prone to brute force attacks and unauthorized access.

So, due to today’s standards, PPTP is really insecure. Cybercriminals with malicious attacks are able to exploit a PPTP connection. Today, PPTP is not recommended for VPN connection tunneling.

What are the risks of PPTP?

PPTP is vulnerable to brute force attacks, man-in-the-middle attacks, monitoring and manipulation of communications, unauthorized VPN account access, and data theft due to its weak encryption.

Is PPTP VPN good or bad?

PPTP has its advantages and disadvantages.  PPTP Security vulnerabilities against attacks make it unsuitable for protecting privacy and ensuring data and communication security.

Should I enable or disable PPTP?

PPTP brings many advantages, including speed, but since it is very old and has some security vulnerabilities, it is recommended to disable PPTP and enable more secure and modern protocols to ensure a higher level of security.

Why use PPTP VPN?

When it comes to VPN protocols, PPTP is among the fastest and most straightforward to set up.

Despite being old, PPTP has maintained its popularity by offering unique speed and ease of use.

On the other hand, PPTP is compatible with various platforms and devices, this features making it valuable for many users.

Is PPTP deprecated? Why?

PPTP has become obsolete due to security vulnerabilities and weaknesses in authentication methods, and More secure alternatives have replaced it.

However, it still remains in use due to user preferences for features such as speed.

Users who prioritize speed can implement solutions to improve PPTP security.

Does NordVPN use PPTP?

No, NordVPN does not support the PPTP protocol. It uses more secure protocols such as OpenVPN to ensure security.

Who created PPTP?

A consortium of technology companies, including Microsoft, Ascend Communications, 3Com, and others, developed PPTP in the 1990s as RFC 2637.

PPTP was initially integrated into Windows NT 4.0 to provide secure remote access and then became widely available in various Microsoft operating systems.

Conclusion

By knowing all the key advantages and disadvantages, you can easily decide if you need to use it or not.

Users do not use PPTP while checking their email, bank account, or sensitive information.

Keep an eye on checking what new operating systems and devices might not support PPTP.