5 Advantages and Disadvantages of PPTP | Drawbacks & Benefits of PPTP

What is PPTP ?

Point to Point Tunneling Protocol (PPTP) is a type of networking standard that interconnects different Virtual Private Networks together. Being developed by Microsoft, it is the oldest available VPN models. It came as a successor to PPTP standard with enabled tunneling feature. 

What makes PPTP popular ?

 

It specifically uses a set of communication rules to extend network of companies and to ensure that VPN connection is handled properly. What makes it more popular is its level of providing privacy. They are commonly used for encrypting data. Even though it cannot offer high level of encryption as given by other VPN protocols today, it is secure to some extent. Although PPTP is outdated version of protocol, there are still many benefits it has over other VPN protocols. VPN users has to know advantages as well as limitations while using PPTP. 

 

In this article, I will be concentrating on 5 Advantages and Disadvantages of PPTP | Drawbacks & Benefits of PPTP. Through this post you will know the pros and cons of using PPTP.

 

Let's get started,

 

Advantages of PPTP

 

1. Compatibility

 

Technically PPTP is compatible with all platforms including Windows, Mac OS and Linux. And also vast range of devices too support PPTP. If you have a computer with Windows operating system installed, it on default supports PPTP. Which means that installation and configuration will be much easier.

 

 

2. Usability

 

Setting up a PPTP protocol can be done seamless since there is no data encryption involved in PPTP. This does not require Public key infrastructure or computer certificate installation. Therefore, it is a complete user friendly process.

 

 

3. Cost

 

Comparing to other options of VPN protocol PPTP is considered to be really cheap. This is again due to the fact that it does not require digital certificates and Public key infrastructure. Moreover for the installation process you don't need to be an expert. This can be done with basic networking knowledge. 

 

 

4. Internet Speed

 

Under normal circumstances, establishing a VPN connection gradually reduces your Internet speed. But this has very minimal effect in PPTP protocol because of its low level of encryption. As a result PPTP ensures good internet speeds.

 

 

5. Unblocking Content

 

Some countries block their VOD and TV services from streaming video content. Using PPTP protocol, you can unblock and access those contents irrespective of the country which you are in.

 

Disadvantages of PPTP

 

1. Performance

 

PPTP often faces performance issues when it is used on unstable networks. As long as there are no lots of private informations, it will not be an issue to connect employees and share documents.

 

 

2. Security

 

Security levels offered by the PPTP protocols is quite low as it is limited to 128 bit encryption only. Even though this increases the security to some extent, hackers with sophisticated hacking tricks can easily get the informations. That is the reason why it is always recommended to have at least 256 bit encryption.

 

 

3. Reliability

 

PPTP is known to be less reliable since it lacks data origin verification and data integrity process. Which means that you cannot ensure whether the data sent to authentic and not altered. And also it fails to verify the origin source. Therefore, sensitive informations sent over this protocol needs to be questioned in terms of reliability.

 

 

4. Firewall Restrictions

 

Internet Service Providers (ISPs) often impose firewalls that recognizes and blocks PPTP protocols. This is as a result of a security measure.

 

 

5. NSA Cracking

 

There are theories stating that PPTP has been cracked by the NSA. Note that this is only a theory and yet to be proven.