PPTP (Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol) is one of the oldest VPN protocols, developed in the mid-1990s by a consortium led by Microsoft. Although it has largely become obsolete due to security vulnerabilities, PPTP is still used in some scenarios due to its ease of setup and fast speeds. Here’s everything you need to know about PPTP.
History of PPTP
PPTP was developed in the mid-1990s by a consortium including Microsoft to provide a simple and effective way to create VPNs. It became one of the first widely adopted VPN protocols due to its ease of use and integration with Windows operating systems.
However, over time, security flaws became apparent, and PPTP has since been replaced by more secure protocols like IKEv2, OpenVPN, and WireGuard.
Understanding PPTP
PPTP uses a combination of PPP for authentication and MPPE (Microsoft Point-to-Point Encryption) for encrypting data. While it was innovative at its inception, modern cryptographic techniques have far surpassed MPPE in terms of security.
Security and privacy
PPTP is known for its significant security issues. The encryption methods used by PPTP, particularly MPPE, are considered weak and easily crackable by modern standards.
Furthermore, PPTP has been vulnerable to various types of attacks, such as dictionary attacks and bit-flipping attacks. Due to these vulnerabilities, it is generally not recommended for secure communications.
Performance
PPTP is known for its fast speeds and low latency, making it suitable for applications where performance is prioritised over security, such as gaming or streaming. Its simplicity and widespread support across different platforms contribute to its high performance.
Pros and cons of PPTP
Pros
- Ease of Setup: Simple to configure and widely supported.
- Speed: Offers fast connection speeds and low latency.
- Compatibility: Supported on a wide range of devices and operating systems.
Cons
- Poor Security: Weak encryption and known vulnerabilities.
- Obsolete: Considered outdated and less secure compared to modern VPN protocols.
- Limited Features: Lacks the advanced features of newer VPN protocols.
Does hide.me VPN support PPTP?
We ceased support for PPTP back in 2019. As mentioned earlier in this blog, PPTP is no longer secure, and continuing to support it would be putting our users in danger for no good reason. The likes of IKEv2 and more recently WireGuard offer better security and are also fast.
And if you use our app, you don’t have to worry about native support, which is the one thing PPTP has going for it.
Is PPTP privacy-friendly?
No, PPTP is not considered privacy-friendly due to its weak encryption and numerous security vulnerabilities. It is not recommended for protecting sensitive data.
Is PPTP fast?
Yes, PPTP is fast and offers low latency, making it suitable for activities where speed is critical, such as gaming and streaming.
Is PPTP more secure than other protocols?
No, PPTP is less secure than modern VPN protocols like OpenVPN, IKEv2, and WireGuard. Its encryption can be easily broken, and it has multiple known vulnerabilities.
What encryption does PPTP use?
PPTP uses MPPE (Microsoft Point-to-Point Encryption) for data encryption. MPPE is considered weak and outdated by modern security standards.
Should I enable PPTP?
If you care about your security, you should not enable PPTP and instead use a modern protocol such as OpenVPN or WireGuard.
Is PPTP good for gaming?
PPTP is theoretically good for gaming due to its fast speeds and low latency. However, the lack of security means it shouldn’t be used.
Is PPTP still used?
While largely considered obsolete, PPTP is still used in some specific scenarios where ease of setup and speed are more important than security (rightly or wrongly). It remains a supported protocol on many devices and operating systems.
What port does PPTP use?
PPTP operates on port 1723 and uses the GRE (Generic Routing Encapsulation) protocol for transmitting data.
What is PPTP passthrough?
PPTP passthrough is a feature on routers that allows PPTP traffic to pass through a firewall.
RI-PPTP
PPTP, once a pioneering VPN protocol, has become largely obsolete due to its significant security weaknesses. While it offers fast speeds and easy setup, its poor security makes it unsuitable for protecting sensitive data. A VPN protocol that is best left to the history books.
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