Free VPN Encryption Test
Test your VPN encryption strength and security
Test Your VPN Encryption Security
This tool analyzes your VPN connection to check encryption strength, protocol security, and potential vulnerabilities. Run the test with your VPN connected to verify its security features.
Security Recommendations
Understanding VPN Encryption
VPN encryption is the process of encoding your internet traffic to protect it from unauthorized access. Strong encryption is the foundation of a secure VPN service. Here's what you need to know about VPN encryption:
Key Components of VPN Encryption
- Encryption Ciphers: Algorithms that convert your data into unreadable code. Common ciphers include AES (Advanced Encryption Standard), ChaCha20, and Blowfish.
- Key Length: Measured in bits (e.g., 128-bit, 256-bit). Longer keys generally provide stronger encryption but may impact performance.
- Key Exchange: Methods like Diffie-Hellman that securely establish encryption keys between your device and the VPN server.
- Hash Authentication: Algorithms like SHA-256 that verify data integrity and authenticate messages.
- Handshake: The process of establishing a secure connection between your device and the VPN server.
VPN Protocols and Their Encryption
| Protocol | Default Encryption | Key Exchange | Authentication | Security Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OpenVPN | AES-256-GCM | DHE-RSA (2048+ bit) | SHA-256 | Very High |
| WireGuard | ChaCha20 | Curve25519 | Poly1305 | Very High |
| IKEv2/IPsec | AES-256 | DH Groups 14+ (2048+ bit) | SHA-256 | High |
| L2TP/IPsec | AES-256 | DH Groups | SHA-1 | Medium-High |
| SSTP | AES-256 | RSA (2048+ bit) | SHA-256 | Medium-High |
| PPTP | MPPE (128-bit) | RSA (1024-bit) | MS-CHAPv2 | Low (Vulnerable) |
Perfect Forward Secrecy (PFS)
PFS is a critical security feature that generates a unique encryption key for each session. This means that even if one session key is compromised, past and future sessions remain secure. Modern VPN protocols like OpenVPN, WireGuard, and IKEv2 support PFS.
Common Vulnerabilities in VPN Encryption
- Weak Ciphers: Outdated encryption algorithms like DES or 3DES that can be broken with modern computing power.
- Short Key Lengths: Keys shorter than 128 bits are generally considered insecure for symmetric encryption.
- Outdated Protocols: PPTP is known to have serious security vulnerabilities and should be avoided.
- DNS Leaks: When DNS requests bypass the VPN tunnel, revealing your browsing activity to your ISP.
- WebRTC Leaks: A browser feature that can expose your real IP address even when using a VPN.
- IPv6 Leaks: When IPv6 traffic bypasses the VPN tunnel if the VPN only handles IPv4 traffic.
Recommended Encryption Standards
- Cipher: AES-256-GCM or ChaCha20-Poly1305
- Key Exchange: 2048-bit RSA, DH Group 14+, or Curve25519
- Authentication: SHA-256 or better
- Protocol: OpenVPN, WireGuard, or IKEv2/IPsec
- Features: Perfect Forward Secrecy, leak protection
How Our VPN Encryption Test Works
Our test analyzes your connection to determine:
- Whether you're using a VPN
- The likely VPN protocol in use
- Estimated encryption strength based on connection characteristics
- Presence of DNS, IP, and WebRTC leaks
- Overall security rating of your VPN connection
Note that while our test provides a good estimate of your VPN security, some aspects of encryption can only be verified by the VPN provider themselves.