WireGuard is the new buzz-word in the VPN industry. The famous and popular VPN providers all feel the pressure to implement the VPN protocol, not only because it is better, but because the users demand it. If they don’t, the users might go elsewhere. But, why is WireGuard so popular? Why do users prefer this VPN protocol to all the other VPN protocols?
Maybe the biggest advantage of WireGuard is the fact that it is modern and made for a modern world. PPTP, the oldest VPN protocol, was created back in 1996. The world has changed a lot since then. Now, it is hard to create a product now that will be just as good in 30 years from now. And that is true about the VPN protocols as well.
The speed aspect of WireGuard!
Whenever you connect to a VPN server, the information is sent through the VPN server. The VPN protocol is used to encrypt the data, and depending on the protocol, it might be faster or slower.
Now, one of the most popular VPN protocols is the OpenVPN protocol. It is said that this VPN protocol consists of more than 500,000 lines of code. Can you imagine that the instructions in those lines are used whenever you send data through the VPN tunnel. And then comes WireGuard, a VPN protocol built upon somewhere around 4000 lines of code. Do you see the difference? All your data is either going through 600,000 lines of code or 4,000 lines of code. Of course this will make a difference when it comes to speeds.
But, WireGuard will not only have a positive effect on your download speeds. One of the other big differences is the connection speed, that is, the time it takes from you press connect, until the VPN connection has been made. All of this is thanks to the modernized code, skipping all waste, and remaining faithful to what it was sent to do.
It is way easier to modify and repair WireGuard
Many VPN companies have already implemented WireGuard. Some are calling it WireGuard, while companies such as NordVPN and ExpressVPN have made some alterations to the code, and they are now calling it Lightway (ExpressVPN) and NordLynx (NordVPN). The protocol is way more easy to develop and work with, simply because the code is better and easier to understand and modify.
Can you imagine reading a Harry Potter book consisting of 1000 pages and then you read a book about Harry the Magician that only consists of 40 pages. If you make a change to the Harry Potter book and change a name, you will need to make the same change all throughout the 1000 pages. If you decide to delete a character, you will need to make sure that the character is never mentioned or referred to elsewhere in the book either. And if a location has to be changed, you will once again need to pay attention so that it will not cause errors in the remaining 999 pages of the book.
But, in a book of 40 pages it is easier to make changes, to repair, and to moderate. You still need to pay attention to the other pages, but since it is way shorter, the chance of making mistakes is smaller, and the code you need to look through is way more digestable.
Shorter code doesn’t make the WireGuard protocol only faster, it also makes it way better and easier to work with!
WireGuard is made for a modern world!
When the first VPN protocol was made, people were still using modems and dial up methods to access the Internet. Today, Internet is everywhere and in everything. I actually had to take a little break writing this article, which meant that I had to leave the office and go for a walk. Do you know what happened in this period? My WiFi connection dropped, and instead, I had to use the 4G connection on my telephone. Do you know that such a change will cause a normal VPN connection to drop if it is using the traditional VPN protocols?
Have you ever been in the midst of a phone call, only to have it interrupter as the elevator door closed in front of you? As you suddenly lost the signal, you could no longer speak to your colleague anymore. And, if you would have been connected to a VPN as you entered the elevator, you would be disconnected from the connection by the time you left the elevator.
For such happenings, WireGuard has implemented a way to keep you protected all along the way, without having to reconnect to your VPN server.
The kill-switch has been a good and temporary solution to such problems, but as you know remain connected along the way, and you also have the kill-switch protection, your security has been taken to a whole new level.
Would you like to use a VPN supporting WireGuard? Which to choose?
As we mentioned in the start of the article, many VPN providers have already implemented the WireGuard protocol. Those who haven’t done it yet, are herassed by their users to get it implemented as quickly as possible. However, there are some VPN providers that are ready for the fight already and that I can warmly recommend.
NordVPN has WireGuard support (calling it NordLynx)
NordVPN was mentioned earlier in the article, and they have implemented the WireGuard protocol and called it NordLynx. Exactly what changes they have made to the protocol making the NordLynx differ from the WireGuard protocol remains unclear to me at the moment, but still, it is mostly the same. The NordLynx protocol is the new default for NordVPN users, making this the basic protocol you use unless you want to use a different protocol.
NordVPN has a 30-day money-back guarantee, and they are one of the fastest VPNs, and they are also very good for unblocking, P2P, and online security.
VyprVPN has WireGuard support (and they call it WireGuard)
The Swiss VPN provider VyprVPN where one of the first VPN providers to implement and make the WireGuard protocol available to its users. This is a very solid and fair VPN, and it has great customer service, and you can trust that they will take good care of you and your interests. The prices are also cheap compared to many competitors.
VyprVPN supports Netflix in some countries, and the application is very easy to use.
Surfshark just added WireGuard to their list of supported VPN protocols
SurfsharkVPN users have used OpenVPN, Shadowsocks, and IKEv2 protocols for a long time. But, the customers bugged them and begged them to add the new protocol. They spent some months actually implementing it, but as of September 2020, SurfsharkVPN users on all platforms can now enjoy the WireGuard protocol. Even though this VPN was founded just two years ago, they already had to make some major changes in order for their customers always to get the best speeds and protocols available in the industry.
SurfsharkVPN is the best VPN for Netflix at the moment (giving you access to Netflix content in more than 10 countries), and they also have some of the best prices on the market. If you click the link above, you will get 12 months extra for free if you purchase their 12 months plan. And do not forget, they also have a full refund policy in case you do not like the service.
Have you used the WireGuard protocol? What was your experience? Did you find it to be better? I would love to hear your experience!
