Surfshark VPN : Award-winning VPN service

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VPN encryption explained

 

What is VPN encryption?
VPN (Virtual Private Network) encryption is a process that enciphers data transmitted between your device and a VPN server to secure it.

When you connect to a VPN, an encryption key is generated, which is used to encode and decode the data. No one besides you has that key, so even if a third party tried to intercept your connection, your encrypted data would look like useless nonsense to them.

Strong encryption is crucial to any VPN. That’s why trustworthy VPN service providers, including Surfshark, use AES-256 encryption — one of the most effective encryption algorithms to date. Along with AES-256 encryption for OpenVPN and IKEv2 protocols, Surfshark uses equally effective ChaCha20 encryption for the WireGuard protocol.


Why is encryption needed?
Encrypting your online activities is beneficial for two main reasons — it increases your security and protects your privacy.

Secure your data
If your connection gets intercepted, hackers can access sensitive data, like your personally identifiable information, passwords, banking details, and more. VPN encryption scrambles that information and makes it unreadable to prying eyes.

Enhance your online privacy
Every time you’re on the internet, your activity — from browsing to streaming — can be tracked and collected by ISPs (Internet Service Providers), websites, governments, and data brokers. A secure VPN connection encrypts your internet traffic, helping you stay private and protected online.


Types of encryption used in VPNs
When it comes to encryption, most of what keeps your data safe online falls into two main categories:

Symmetric encryption: this is the classic type of encryption. Both parties use the same key to encrypt and decrypt data. It’s simple and efficient, making it great for fast communication once a secure connection is established — even the Romans used it;

Asymmetric encryption (public key encryption): this method uses a pair of keys: a public one to encrypt the data and a private one to decrypt it. It’s slower than symmetric encryption but more secure for establishing trust between devices that haven’t communicated before.

Modern VPN protocols (like those used by Surfshark) combine both types of encryption. First, asymmetric encryption is used to safely set up a connection between your device and the VPN server. Then, symmetric encryption takes over to protect your data efficiently — using advanced, quantum-resistant standards like AES-256 or ChaCha20. This hybrid approach gives you the best of both worlds: security and speed.

 

AES encryption protocol
AES (Advanced Encryption Standard) is among the most sophisticated encryption protocols trusted by cybersecurity specialists and governments worldwide.

AES is a block cipher, meaning it splits data into smaller blocks and uses different cryptographic keys for each block. The keys can be of various lengths — 128, 192, or 256 bits — and the longer the encryption key, the harder it is to crack.

AES-256 encryption has become the standard in the cybersecurity world and is also used by Surfshark. Even with the fastest supercomputers available today, it would take insurmountable amounts of time to try all the possible combinations (2^256) to crack it through a brute-force attack.


ChaCha20 encryption protocol
ChaCha20 is one of the most widely used encryption algorithms. It is secure, fast, and applicable for a wide range of uses.  

ChaCha20 is a stream cipher, meaning that it encrypts data in a continuous stream, bit by bit, and it uses a 256-bit key for encryption and decryption. This combination provides speed and security.

The design of ChaCha20 makes it one of the fastest encryption algorithms, exceptionally secure, and highly implementable, rendering it a perfect choice for VPNs.

 

How does VPN encryption work?
 

• Step 1: Asymmetric cryptography handshake
  
  The encryption process begins with a secure handshake between your device and the VPN server. This handshake uses asymmetric cryptography — which involves a public and a private key — to verify the connection and securely exchange information.
  
  
• Step 2: Symmetric key exchange
  
  During the handshake, a unique symmetric encryption key is securely generated and shared. This key is then used to encrypt and decrypt your data for the rest of the session. A fresh key is created regularly to keep your connection secure and prevent exposure, even if a past session was compromised.
  
  
• Step 3: Data encryption
  
  With the symmetric key in place, all your internet traffic is encrypted using advanced encryption algorithms, such as AES-256 or ChaCha20 — ensuring your data stays private and protected as it travels between you and the VPN server.
  
  
• Step 4: Integrity check
  
  Finally, integrity algorithms verify that your data hasn’t been tampered with or altered during transmission.
  

 

Surfshark's Security Encryption

Surfshark uses industry-leading encryption to keep the user's data safe, specifically (as mentioned above) AES-256-GCM and ChaCha20, both trusted by cybersecurity experts worldwide. AES-256-GCM is widely adopted in government and enterprise-grade systems, while ChaCha20 offers excellent security on devices with lower processing power. Todate, there aren’t any safer alternatives.

Strengthening Surfshark’s encryption is it's Perfect Forward Secrecy – a feature that generates a unique key for every session. This means if ever someone intercepts your traffic, they (the interceptor)wouldn’t be able to decrypt any (intercepted) sessions. VPN protocols control how your data is encrypted and transmitted. Some prioritize top-tier security, while others are built for speed and efficiency. Having multiple options lets the user adjust based on his device or activity. It is a set of rules governing the connection between your device and the Surfshark VPN server. 


VPN protocols    
As the user goes online, he is constantly sending and receiving information. Sending this information, requires that it be split into small data packets, and VPN protocols dictate the order in which these packets are sent and the encryption used to protect them. All protocols used by Surfshark are fast and secure, and you can stick with the default protocol or choose a different one that suits your preferences.

Different protocols offer varying advantages. Some provide faster speed or better image/audio quality, while others ensure a more stable connection. If a user is experiencing connectivity issues, try changing the protocol. Surfshark supports fast and secure protocols: OpenVPN (UDP/TCP), WireGuard, and IKEv2.
 

• OpenVPN protocol
  
  OpenVPN is a tunneling protocol that is available as an open-source project. Its code is freely available on the internet, and it is maintained and updated by security and networking experts from around the world. Additionally, while using this protocol on Surfshark, you are using obfuscated servers. The Surfshark app offers two options for OpenVPN: UDP and TCP.
  
  UDP is faster and is great for safe streaming, video calls, or games.
  TCP is more stable and will ensure that every single packet of information that you send from your device is delivered. However, it may be slower compared to other protocols.
  
  NOTE: OpenVPN is available on Surfshark apps for Android, macOS, Windows, iOS, and Linux.
  
  
• WireGuard® protocol
  
  WireGuard® is a relatively new communication protocol that has recently gained popularity in the cyber-security market. WireGuard works by creating secure point-to-point connections using state-of-the-art cryptography, aiming for high performance and minimal overhead. Its open-source nature provides better performance compared to OpenVPN and IKEv2. It is considered the fastest VPN protocol available today. 
  
  To ensure an even further security - Surfshark has implemented post-quantum protection on top of the WireGuard protocol - simply use it in app and you're protected!
  
  NOTE: Currently, WireGuard® is available on Surfshark apps for Windows, iOS, Android, and macOS. If you cannot find it on your Surfshark app, update it to the latest version. Post-quantum encryption layer is not supported on manual configurations at this time. Please note that WireGuard® is a registered trademark of Jason A. Donenfield.
  
  
• IKEv2 protocol
  
  IKEv2 (Internet Key Exchange version 2) is a widely used VPN protocol known for its strong security features and efficient performance. It establishes a secure connection between a client and a VPN server, enabling encrypted data transmission over the internet. IKEv2 is notable for its ability to quickly re-establish connections in case of network disruptions, making it suitable for mobile devices and remote access scenarios.
  

 

 

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