What is PPTP?

Leo Jefferson

Apr 29, 2023 | 6 min read

History of the PPTP Protocol

Principles of the PPTP Protocol

Advantages of the PPTP Protocol

Disadvantages of the PPTP Protocol

Why You Should Avoid Using the PPTP Protocol?

History of the PPTP Protocol

The PPTP protocol stands for Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol . It is a VPN protocol, which stands for Virtual Private Network. VPN is a technology that allows you to create a private connection over the internet, similar to being in a dedicated tunnel. This way, you can securely transmit data over public networks without worrying about eavesdropping or tampering.

Principles of the PPTP Protocol

The working principle of the PPTP protocol is straightforward. It first establishes a TCP connection between two points and then creates a tunnel over this connection. A tunnel is a encapsulation technique that wraps data packets with an additional header. This allows the packets to be transmitted between different network layers, regardless of the original protocol or address.

Inside the tunnel, the data packets are encrypted and decrypted. Encryption and decryption are protection techniques that transform data packets into a form that cannot be understood or modified by unauthorized parties. This ensures that the packets can be safely transmitted over insecure networks without the risk of eavesdropping or tampering.

Finally, at the other end of the tunnel, the data packets are de-encapsulated and decrypted. De-encapsulation and decryption are restoration techniques that revert the packets to their original form and content. This allows the packets to be correctly received and processed without being affected by the tunnel or encryption.

Advantages of the PPTP Protocol

The PPTP protocol has some advantages that make it useful in certain situations. The main advantages include the following:

① Fast Speed

Due to the use of weaker encryption algorithms and simpler encapsulation techniques, the PPTP protocol has lower resource consumption, allowing for faster transmission speeds.

② Good Compatibility

As one of the earliest VPN protocols, PPTP is supported by many operating systems and devices, including Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS, and more.

③ Easy Configuration

PPTP is relatively simple and mature, making it easy to configure and use without requiring extensive technical knowledge or skills.

Disadvantages of the PPTP Protocol

However, the PPTP protocol also has many disadvantages that make it unsuitable for many use cases. The main disadvantages include the following:

① Low Security

Due to the use of weaker encryption algorithms and simpler encapsulation techniques, the PPTP protocol provides inadequate protection for data packets, making it susceptible to cracking or attacks. In fact, PPTP has been shown to have multiple security vulnerabilities and flaws, such as weaknesses in MS-CHAPv2 authentication, vulnerabilities in the GRE protocol, weaknesses in the RC4 encryption algorithm, and more.

② Easy to be Blocked by Firewalls

PPTP protocol uses fixed port numbers and protocol types, making it easy for firewalls or network administrators to identify and filter, making it challenging to bypass network blocks or censorship.

③ High Instability

Since the PPTP protocol relies on TCP connections, it is influenced by TCP-related factors such as latency, packet loss, retransmissions, etc. These factors can cause unstable connections, frequent disconnections, or dropouts.

Why You Should Avoid Using the PPTP Protocol?

In summary, we can see that the PPTP protocol is an outdated security tool. Although it has some advantages, it also has many disadvantages. If you value the security of your data and privacy, you should avoid using the PPTP protocol and choose a more advanced VPN service like MetroVPN .