VPNs are by far the safest way to use the Internet, surely using two VPNs is better? This is a must read for anyone considering VPN tunnel cascading. If you know anything at all about VPNs it is likely you’ve had the thought that if one VPN is good, wouldn’t two VPNs be better? VPN cascading, the official term for double VPN, is both a bonus for users and a possible red flag for ISPs and others who may be monitoring Internet traffic. Why the red flag? Cascading VPN services is a common tactic of people using the Internet for illicit purposes or with something truly valuable to hide because of the high level of security and privacy that it can provide. Before I move on I want to touch base for just a second on what exactly a VPN is. VPN, Virtual Private Network, is a means of connecting to and using the public Internet as if it were your own privately maintained network. When the Internet Protocol came on the scene and made it possible to connect to local and private networks over the phone or other communication lines an instant need was created. A need to make secure connections. Because much of what was being transmitted across the public wires was sensitive in some form or other, remote users needed a way to connect to the home network with safety and privacy and that method is VPN. VPN is the combination of two trains of Internet security: secure connections and encrypted data. It is the result of private sector and US government sponsored work and is as old as the Internet itself. What it does is create a digital tunnel through which your computer or device connects to the Internet. It bypasses your regular ISP to create a direct connection from your device to a dedicated server that authenticates and decrypts your data stream before routing it on to is destination. Once the tunnel is set up your device connects to the Internet in secret and then pops up with a new and anonymous IP address. All of your data, before it leaves your device to travel through the tunnel, is encrypted to ensure an extra layer of safety. The result is an internet connection that is private, undetectable, bypasses geo-restrictions and is near impossible to decipher, and the safest way for anyone to connect to the internet. In the old days setting up a VPN was hard. It required at least a working knowledge of Internet Protocols if not a degree in computer science. Nowadays, after many improvements and modifications to the technology, it is commercially available to the general public. Providers like Le VPN can grant unlimited use of their services for only a few dollars per month and usually provide dozens of server locations to choose from. Le VPN I know has servers in more than 100 countries around the world providing the most complete coverage of any provider on the market. Using them is also very easy. Once the software is downloaded to your device all it takes is a click to initiate the connection. Once made you secure, or as secure as you can be when using the Internet. Something I always do once I make the VPN connection is clear my cache and cookies so that no stored data inadvertently allows my data to leak. Especially helpful if your intention is to bypass geo-restrictions or avoid geo-detection. So, to bring it back around, cascading your VPN, also known as tunnel cascading your VPN, is a method of using a VPN to create a secure, encrypted connection to the Internet for the purposes of nesting another secure, encrypted VPN connection within it. The set up looks something like this: So long as your connection is traveling within the first leg of the cascade it benefits from double encryption and double security. Once it exits the cascade it falls back on the safety of the single VPN connection. Some VPN providers like Le VPN do not allow VPN cascading with their VPN service, as the VPN cascading is commonly used for illicit internet activities and Le VPN does not support or allow those, which is also stated in their Terms and Conditions of Service. For informational purpose, we are still going to describe how a VPN cascading works. Setting up a nested cascade is super easy and can be done in a number of ways. Whatever method you choose you will need to have an Internet provider and connection set up at your home or office, and an account with a VPN provider. Method One: Method Two: Method Three: Please note that VPN cascading does not provide much of an additional value, as a secure VPN connection with Le VPN is enough to protect your Internet activities as individuals, families or businesses. A single Le VPN account can protect all devices using the router set-up without using VPN cascading. Over the years there have been a number of advancements to VPN technology that have resulted in 3 specific protocols with varying degrees of safety. These are PPTP, L2TP and OpenVPN. PPTP, point-to-point tunneling protocol, is the earliest and least secure form. It creates the secure connection but does not use encryption. It’s good for basic safety, as a backstop for anti-virus, anti-malware and Internet Best Practices, and is generally used for web surfing and low-level Internet interactions. L2TP, level 2 tunneling protocol, is the next generation and includes high-level encryption as well as secure connections to ensure privacy and safety. This protocol is best used for more sensitive web browsing such as visits to the online bank or other financial transactions. The downside is that with the extra layer of security comes a bit more latency than with the standard PPTP. OpenVPN is an open source form of VPN and the best available today. It uses the highest level of encryption and authentication over secure connections to provide the most safety and security available. The major advantages of OpenVPN include the ability to bypass most firewalls and network/ISP restrictions. Even though there are many benefits of VPN cascading, our answer is No. Using a single encrypted VPN connection should be enough for any internet user to stay safe and secure online. No need to use a double VPN connection of the VPN cascading and ruin your online reputation with your ISP and your VPN provider who will detect it and block you “just in case”. Yes, the internet is filled with danger, not even considering the fact that there are MILLIONS of viruses and malware seeking to take over your device and all of your identifiable information, and there is always the chance of a simple leak that allows someone access to your Facebook, potentially embarrassing, or your bank account, potentially catastrophic. The need for a reliable and trusted VPN service is clear. It’s cheap, it’s easy and it will save you untold hours of headache and expense so there is just no reason to wait. Get Le VPN before it’s too late. *Article Updated on August 15th, 2018* Get Le VPN from $4.95 per month with a 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee and Enjoy the Internet by Your Own Rules! NO LOGS 100+ LOCATIONS P2P ALLOWED Easy To Use 30-Day Money Back Friendly Support Bitcoin Accepted Ultra High SpeedsEverything You Need To Know About VPN Tunnel Cascading
Your Device => VPN1 => VPN2 => Internet
How To Set Up A VPN Cascade
VPN Protocols, They Aren’t All The Same
Should You Be Using A VPN Cascade?
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Written by Vuk Mujović @VukMujovic
Vuk Mujović is the founder of MacTíre Consulting, an analyst, data management expert, and a long-term writer on all things business & tech. He authored blogs, articles, and opinion pieces aimed to help both companies and individuals achieve growth without compromising their security. Vuk is a regular guest author to Le VPN Blog since January 2018, where he gives his expert opinion on the topics related to cybersecurity, privacy, online freedom, and personal data protection. He also often shares his tips and best practices in relation to internet security and digital safety of private individuals and small businesses, including some additional applications of using a VPN service.