What can be better than encrypting your data traffic and changing your IP address to remain anonymous and safe online? Well, in this case, probably repeating the same privacy measures twice for added security. That is exactly how a Double VPN functions.
You might ask, “What does a double VPN offer compared to a standard VPN?” Your concern is valid and relevant enough to be catered to. Admittedly, a standard VPN connection ensures enough security against major online privacy issues such as:
- ISP and Government Surveillance
- Bypassing geo-restrictions
- protection against cybercriminals.
However, this feature allows you to take this protection up several notches. Most double VPN providers offer the double VPN feature and the VPN subscription. Hence, will you be getting double the security for the price of one? It sounds like a jackpot to me!
How does a double VPN work?
The feature’s operation is drenched with layers of encryption that add to your security.
- The first encryption of your data occurs when your VPN encrypts the outgoing data traffic of your device.
- Next, this encrypted outgoing data traffic reaches the first server of your double VPN.
- This server will then encrypt your outgoing data traffic once again for a second encryption process.
- Moreover, the first server will receive your actual IP address but will conceal it.
- Once the second encryption is complete, the encrypted data traffic reaches the second VPN server. The server will decode your data and send it to your destination.
- Your last destination remains unaware of your actual IP address since it receives the IP address of the second server.
When it comes to incoming data traffic, the procedure is the opposite. For instance, the two VPN servers are responsible for encrypting the data sent by a website. With that, the end user’s device is responsible for decoding it.
Why Do You Need a Double VPN?
Most of us rest peacefully in our houses, sure that the security guard will protect us. But in the contemporary data-driven world, your private data is equivalent to valuables, such as oil, currency, diamonds, etc.
Moreover, the need for extra protection becomes unavoidable since an entire market of data selling and data theft is predominant over the dark web. Hence, a double VPN is introduced in the picture, which is as essential as a security guard to protect you from thieves/cybercriminals.
Some of the factors that necessitate its use are as follows:
Double encryption
Just as multiple sticks in a bundle can’t be broken, multiple encryption layers and server routing is beneficial to prevent data leaks. The double encryption process uses the standard 256-bit cipher but runs it through two or more servers to enhance the encryption process and change IP addresses.
VPN protocols
A double VPN incorporates two protocols simultaneously, such as the OpenVPN TCP and UDP protocols. OpenVPN is already considered one of the most high-speed and secure VPN protocols, but combining TCP and UDP completely eliminates all privacy concerns.
IP address protection
There are multiple phases in action with a Double VPN. For instance, multiple servers encrypt your data and hide your original IP address. Hence, there is no compromise in terms of user anonymity.
Geo-location privacy
The feature allows you to enable privacy by adapting the IP address of a distant server and hiding your location. Furthermore, like a standard VPN, it allows you to bypass geo-restrictions due to its global servers.
Surveillance and data monitoring
While traveling or living in a restrictive country with data retention laws, then this VPN feature is your need. With its double encryption, you are making it twice as difficult for surveillance organizations to trace your activities.
Are There Any Pros And Cons of Double VPNs?
Double VPN’s pros can easily surpass its cons due to its dedication to user experience. It offers a plethora of features that make it ideal for your security and anonymity, such as:
- The most prominent function of double VPNs, i.e., double encryption, ensures complete online anonymity.
- Due to multiple encryption and shifts IP addresses, each servers are unaware of your original IP address and your location.
- Double VPNs also hide the fact that you’re using a VPN; hence, your ISP can also not block your VPN connection.
Undeniably, a Double VPN’s security surpasses all other security tools; however, it isn’t always such a smooth sail. Double VPN brings along with it its fair share of tumults.
- First and foremost, there is a significant drop in speed since the data encryption and rerouting delay your internet activity.
- Moreover, Tor and double VPNs are completely incompatible with each other. Just how the excess of anything is a cause of ruin, similarly because both are privacy-focused tools, they are bound to clash with their functionalities.
- A Double VPN might also drain your battery much quicker if you are using it on your smartphone.
- Double VPNs operate with a limited selection of servers; hence, restricting your liberty to access global sites.
Hence, you should only use a double VPN as long as your concern is maximum security and refrain from using it for streaming, torrenting, gaming, or any other data-intensive task.
VPN Provider That Offers Double VPN Feature!
DoubleVPN is usually not present in most VPN connections since it is usually only required by severely privacy-conscious users, journalists, and alibis who want to remain anonymous while submitting news. Hence, although it is a critical tool for privacy, most users settle with standard VPN connections. The very few providers who offer a double VPN feature are as follows:
1. NordVPN
NordVPN is one of the most prominent providers of the double VPN feature. In terms of living up to your requirements, its double VPN feature is very useful since it allows you to create a connection in a matter of seconds. Because of its simplicity of use, it is a preferred double VPN provider with a user-friendly interface. NordVPN’s Double VPN service is easily accessible for use on platforms or devices such as Android, iOS, macOS, Windows, or Linux.
Located in Panama, NordVPN serves as a privacy haven for internet users seeking anonymity. For further reassurance, NordVPN’s Double VPN claims to practice a zero-logs policy and even proves its claims with its log-audit report. Moreover, NordVPN’s double VPN employs 256-bit encryption within two out of its 31 double VPN configured servers. These servers operate with OpenVPN UDP and OpenVPN TCP protocols, providing enhanced security and speed.
NordVPN’s Double VPN service is included in its basic subscriptions and does not incur any extra charges. You can access it under its “Specialty servers” tab.
2. Surfshark VPN
Although relatively new, Surfshark VPN has developed into a reliable option that is capable of offering several advanced features. Its Double VPN feature is referred to as MultiHop; however, it has the same functionality. Surfshark VPN’s Double VPN service is easily accessible for use on platforms or devices such as Android, iOS, macOS, Windows, or Linux.
Surfshark VPN is originally located in the British Virgin Islands, proving a safe jurisdiction since it does not employ data retention laws and is not a part of surveillance organizations. Its Double VPN feature also adds to your privacy since it adheres to its zero-log policy and offers security against DNS and IP leaks.
By using 256-bit AES encryption along with an authentication hash SHA512 and a 2048-bit RSA key for handshaking, Surfshark VPN proves its dedication to user security. It also employs OpenVPN UDP and TCP protocols within its 15 double VPN server configurations for you to enjoy high speed and security.
You can access Surfshark’s double VPN feature by clicking on the “Locations” tab in the app and then selecting “MultiHop.” It doesn’t require you to pay extra charges for this feature as it is included in the subscription.
3. ProtonVPN
ProtonVPN is a security-based VPN provider that supports an advanced Double VPN feature called Secure Core for your added protection. This feature is easily accessible on Android, Windows, and Linux. However, since it cannot offer OpenVPN protocol to macOS and iOS, you can not use its Double VPN option on these platforms.
ProtonVPN is originally located in Geneva, Switzerland, home to some of the most stringent privacy regulations promoting user security. It also possesses a zero-logs policy along with separate log audit reports for Android, iOS, macOS, and Windows, displaying its control over all these platforms.
ProtonVPN’s Secure Core feature uses 256-bit AES encryption to protect your data. However, it doesn’t employ double encryption and only supports multiple servers within its 48 double VPN server configurations. All of these servers are situated in countries that have been carefully chosen for their stringent privacy regulations, like Iceland, Switzerland, and Sweden. Such careful selection of serves along with its advanced VPN protocols, such as OpenVPN UDP and TCP, make ProtonVPN’s Secure Core a preferred option.
You can find ProtonVPN’s Secure Core feature under the Countries tab. However, it is not entirely free since you need to upgrade to the Plus and Visionary subscription plans to access it.
4. Perfect-Privacy VPN
Perfect-Privacy VPN’s Double VPN feature, known as NeuroRouting, will secure both your real identity as well as your real IP address by routing them via four separate encrypted VPN servers amongst 25 different server locations. Due to its multiple levels of data routing, each website you access will be able to view only the IP address provided by the last VPN server. On top of its enhanced data routing, it also employs 256-bit AES encryption along with advanced VPN protocols, such as OpenVPN UDP and TCP and IPSec/IKEv2.
Perfect-Privacy VPN is originally located in Switzerland and falls under Swiss jurisdiction, which is safe for a VPN provider. Furthermore, it maintains a Warrant Canary section that addresses the legal position of its servers for you to ensure its zero-logs policy.
Perfect-Privacy VPN’s Double VPN service is easily accessible for use on platforms or devices such as Android, iOS, macOS, Windows, or Linux. You can search for Perfect Privacy VPN’s NeuroRouting feature under the member section and toggle it on or off. You also wouldn’t need to pay extra charges for it since it comes with your premium subscription.
5. AstrillVPN
AstrillVPN offers multi-hop connections as well as features a smart mode that provides double VPN characteristics. AstrillVPN’s Double VPN service is easily accessible for use on platforms or devices such as Android, iOS, macOS, Windows, or Linux.
AstrillVPN is originally located in Seychelles, a nation in East Africa that is well-known for taking a firm position on privacy and hence, proves as a safe jurisdiction for VPN providers. However, AstrillVPN admits to logging some of the users’ information which makes it a bit unreliable in terms of secrecy. But it does claim to delete all of your information within 30 days, so there is no full record of your internet activity.
In such rocky circumstances, AstrillVPN’s security provided by its double VPN function serves as its saving grace. It employs 256-bit AES encryption along with advanced VPN protocols such as OpenVPN UDP and TCP. Furthermore, its extensive server network covers about 107 cities across 57 countries and provides you with the ability to bypass geo-restrictions. However, it comes with a cost, and you need to have a premium subscription to access AstrillVPN’s Double VPN functionalities.
How Safe Is the Double VPN Feature?
A double VPN guarantees safety since there is absolutely no way of decrypting your data traffic and your real IP address remains private; hence, ensuring anonymity. Double VPN configuration further enhances the security provided by a regular VPN connection since it adds an additional server to the mix.
Consider the scenario in which hackers acquire the encryption key for any one of the two VPN servers in a double VPN. However, your data traffic will still remain encrypted for the other server, and cybercriminals will not be able to exploit it. Aside from that, the second VPN server also remains unaware of your actual IP address, and thus, it has no way of knowing our location. It merely considers your data being originated from the first VPN server.
Your ISP is likewise unaware of where all of your internet traffic will eventually end up as it considers the second VPN server as your final destination. Moreover, a double VPN provides additional security against VPN correlation attacks which may potentially connect traffic to a VPN user’s IP address.
What is the difference between double VPN and VPN over VPN?
In general, double VPN and VPN over VPN are on the same wavelength in terms of functionality as both offer you a connection with two VPN servers simultaneously. All that distinguishes the two is the fact that a Double VPN utilizes two servers from the same provider. At the same time, a VPN over VPN connection would overlay the services of two different VPN servers from different providers.
Hence, a double VPN is a more cost-effective and easy-going way to achieve maximum security. Moreover, it is possible that the two VPNs you choose for a VPN over a VPN connection aren’t effective enough while performing as a team since they are not designed for such operation.
Final Words
Double VPN serves as an additional layer of security that becomes crucial in a data-driven world. You are free to explore the internet without any restrictions once you are subscribed to a double VPN plan. All of the VPNs mentioned above are perfect options for you to rely on for maximum privacy and data security.
