VPNs protect your online data from hackers, unauthorized surveillance, and data mining. But how exactly does that happen? They create an encrypted VPN tunnel, which is your safe window to the internet.
Understanding VPN tunnels helps you choose a secure VPN fit for your needs. In this article, I’ll explain what a VPN tunnel is, how it works, and its precise benefits.
What Is a VPN Tunnel?
A VPN tunnel is a secure connection from your device to the VPN server. It encrypts your data flow, making it undecipherable to third parties, be it a malicious hacker on public Wi-Fi or simply your Internet Service Provider (ISP).
The VPN tunnel is not your whole VPN. It is an essential part of the whole application, which also manages connection protocols, protects from IP and DNS leaks, and ensures zero logging as a VPN operational policy.
It’s worth noting that fully developed VPNs ensure data integrity. That is, they can confirm that data in transit has not been modified in any way. If the VPN detects abnormalities, it prevents corrupt data from reaching the user device, which can stop some network attacks, such as Man-in-the-Middle interception.
How Does a VPN Tunnel Work?
A VPN tunnel is the method a VPN uses to keep user data-in-transit secure from any kind of tampering. Here are its three main principles:
- Authentication. Before data travels through the tunnel, the VPN verifies each party’s identity to establish the tunnel in the first place. Asymmetric encryption authenticates the participating parties, and key exchange protocols are used to derive the symmetric cryptographic keys safely.
- Encapsulation. The VPN wraps your data request in a new packet and hides your browsing activity (like the destination IP address). The VPN server then assigns its own IP address, so your original identity is hidden from the wider web.
- Encryption. A VPN then uses faster symmetric encryption to hide your traffic from third parties. Only the tunnel endpoints hold the key to decrypt it, so the VPN server can decrypt your traffic and forward it to the target destination.
Types of VPN Tunneling Protocols
A VPN tunnel works according to a set of rules called VPN tunneling protocols. They control which encryption method is used, how cryptographic keys are derived, how authentication, encapsulation, and data integrity are handled, and how server disconnects and reconnects are managed.
There are a variety of VPN protocols, like WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2, PPTP, SSTP, and many more. Essentially, they differ in speed, security, and the level of online privacy they offer (which in turn affects their ability to bypass online censorship and geographical restrictions).
The WireGuard protocol is now included in almost all modern VPNs. It is fast, secure, and easy to deploy and audit. For the user, that means faster and more stable connection speeds. Keep in mind that some VPNs develop proprietary protocols built around WireGuard, like NordVPN’s NordLynx.
Alongside WireGuard, OpenVPN (UDP and TCP) is also typically found in most VPNs. The TCP method can be configured to use the same port as the HTTPS protocol, which means it’s easier to mimic ordinary web traffic instead of VPN traffic. That’s useful for bypassing simple firewall blocks, or more advanced restrictions whenever the traffic obfuscation feature is available.
In mobile VPN applications, you’ll often encounter the IKEv2 protocol. It handles reconnects very efficiently, so it’s well suited to mobiles that frequently switch between mobile towers.
Lastly, you may come across protocols like SSTP, PPTP, or L2TP/IPsec. These are outdated and shouldn’t be relied on by consumers for online privacy; they have only very specific use cases in certain networks.
What Is VPN Split Tunneling?
VPN split tunneling is a feature that gives users control over how their traffic is routed. Instead of sending all device traffic through the VPN tunnel, it lets users choose which apps use the original ISP connection instead. Let’s take Surfshark as an example.
Surfshark calls this feature Bypasser. You can select apps or websites that bypass the VPN tunnel and use your original IP address.
In my case, I chose to exclude Battle.net. I’d noticed games like Hearthstone and Diablo tend to disconnect while connected to a VPN. With this setup, I can privately browse the web or torrent with the VPN on, but Battle.net uses my original ISP connection, avoiding the random disconnects.
Benefits of Using a VPN Tunnel
Before wrapping up, let’s recap the essential VPN tunnel benefits.
Modern, well-tested encryption standards protect your data. Even if hackers are on your network (which often happens on public Wi-Fi) or your ISP is gathering data, they will only see encrypted gibberish. This is why VPNs are one of the most widely used tools for online privacy protection.
You also mask your original IP address. If you connect to a VPN server in a different country, you can browse its local streaming content, which is why streaming VPNs are widely used to access more entertainment without paying for new subscriptions.
Many VPNs also offer additional features like ad blockers, limited malware protection, and tracker disablers. To summarize, you get genuinely safer access to the internet, and you can always fall back on the split tunneling feature whenever a VPN tunnel isn’t necessary.