While using a VPN you may have noticed the option to select a VPN protocol. You know, those weird, seemingly random IT-sounding names that sometimes resemble alphabet soup: OpenVPN, WireGuard, IKEv2, SSTP, etc. So what exactly are those protocols, do they make a difference, and why should you care? Every VPN uses protocols to establish a connection between your device and a VPN server and then securely transmit data. Choosing the right protocol option can have a big impact on the overall speed and security of your connection. Here I’ll explain what a VPN protocol is, discuss the most common protocols you’re likely to come across, and give advice to help you make an informed decision on which to use. Choosing the right protocol can help, but they are only as good as the VPN provider itself. Remember to pair a good protocol with a top VPN service to get the best results. What is a VPN protocol, anyways? Simply put, a VPN protocol is a set of rules that determine how data is encrypted and sent between a device and a VPN server.  All internet-connected devices need a protocol in order to travel between your device and the internet or other devices on a network. They usually follow the Internet Protocol, or IP, which every device already knows and runs. Think of it like the Google Maps of the internet: You provide the source and the destination, then Google Maps finds the route and directs you on how to get there based on predetermined traffic laws. A VPN protocol on the other hand, redirects your data traffic through a secure, encrypted tunnel before reaching its destination. This redirection and encryption requires a different set of rules than the standard IP, and these new rules are the VPN protocol. Since the VPN reroutes your data through its own servers, your device isn’t familiar with it and requires new instructions.  Much like traffic laws, a VPN protocol provides instructions on where to go, how fast to go, and how safely your data travels to its destination. To continue with the Google Maps analogy, a VPN protocol is like a separate, secret GPS that only your device knows and it might take you on a different — likely less efficient — route, but it’ll be safer because only your device knows it. Most common VPN protocols OpenVPN Most VPN providers will allow you to choose your OpenVPN protocol preference. Most VPN providers will allow you to choose your OpenVPN protocol preference. Sam Singleton Most VPN providers will allow you to choose your OpenVPN protocol preference. Sam Singleton Sam Singleton OpenVPN is an extremely popular open-source protocol created back in 2001. It is known for both its security and versatility. This is down to the fact that it can be run on either TCP (transmission control protocol) or UDP (user datagram protocol). Without boring you too much with the details of these two, TCP maintains a strong connection between a receiver and sender and allows for great reliability. UDP, on the other hand, is connectionless, meaning you may lose some data transfer reliability, but the speeds will be faster. OpenVPN is one of the most commonly used VPN protocols due to its mix of security and speed. And due to its open-source nature, the community-supported open source software (OSS) project allows developers to continually examine and update the OpenVPN code for vulnerabilities. It is generally best to use OpenVPN for private web-surfing and other activities, especially when done over unsecure public Wi-Fi networks. Since OpenVPN is one of the most secure protocols, it does a excellent job of keeping you safe when you have to connect to potentially risky networks. IKEv2/IPsec IKEv2 is most often found on mobile VPN apps due to its on the go capabilities. IKEv2 is most often found on mobile VPN apps due to its on the go capabilities.Sam Singleton IKEv2 is most often found on mobile VPN apps due to its on the go capabilities.Sam Singleton Sam Singleton Internet key exchange version 2 (IKEv2) and Internet Protocol Security (IPSec) are often used in tandem. IKEv2 was jointly developed by Microsoft and Cisco and creates a secure tunnel connecting a device to a VPN server. IPSec then provides the encryption and authentication. IKEv2’s best feature is that it can easily and quickly re-establish connections after network disruptions or while switching networks. This advantage allows for seamless switching between different network interfaces, such as from Wi-Fi to cellular. Due to its network switching agility, IKEv2 is best used when you expect to frequently change network connections, such as while traveling or on the move when your mobile device may alternate between Wi-Fi and cellular. WireGuard WireGuard is a lightweight and fast protocol. WireGuard is a lightweight and fast protocol. Sam Singleton WireGuard is a lightweight and fast protocol. Sam Singleton Sam Singleton WireGuard is the newest and fastest protocol currently taking the VPN industry by storm. It uses state-of-the-art cryptography that outperforms even OpenVPN. And just like its forbearer, it is also open-source. Released in 2015, WireGuard emphasizes simplicity making it extremely lightweight, efficient, and easy to build around. The latter has allowed many VPN providers to work off of WireGuard in order to build their own proprietary protocols — looking at you NordLynx.  Since WireGuard is hands down the fastest protocol currently available, it is best used when speed is a priority. Whether you’re streaming, playing online games, or downloading files, WireGuard should be your go-to. SSTP SSTP, or Secure Socket Tunneling Protocol, was created by Microsoft and is primarily available on Windows systems. It provides comparable speed and security to most other protocols on this list, but its lack of compatibility means it isn’t as widely used. SSTP is an absolutely fine protocol to use for Windows users, but Mac and Linux users may need to consider other options. L2TP/IPsec L2TP, or Layer 2 Tunneling protocol, and IPsec are another common protocol duo. L2TP is one of the oldest protocols — developed in the 1990s. It connects a user to a VPN server, but does not encrypt or authenticate. Therefore, it relies on the tools found in IPsec to accomplish these security tasks instead. Despite its wide compatibility, L2TP is one of the slowest protocols still available. L2TP/IPsec isn’t very common among modern VPN providers, but its compatibility and long history of use means that companies often use it to connect separate branches into one network. PPTP PPTP, or Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol, was developed by Microsoft in the late 1990s and is one of the earliest VPN protocols. It still relies on outdated encryption and is therefore considered to be rather weak and susceptible to security vulnerabilities. It is rarely used by VPN providers today, who instead opt for other protocols with much stronger and more advanced encryption ciphers. I can’t honestly recommend that the average VPN user work with the PPTP protocol. Almost any other option on this list would be better. Besides, you aren’t likely to find PPTP as a protocol option from your VPN provider anyways. Which VPN protocol should you use? If you’re ever unsure of which protocol to use, it’s best to default to WireGuard. If you’re ever unsure of which protocol to use, it’s best to default to WireGuard. Sam Singleton If you’re ever unsure of which protocol to use, it’s best to default to WireGuard. Sam Singleton Sam Singleton The best VPN protocol for you will come down to preference and what you’re trying to do. The context in which you’ll use a VPN is going to ultimately dictate which protocol will be most effective. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages. If you’re feeling the need for speed, then WireGuard should be your go-to protocol. It is currently the speediest protocol on the market and offers quicker connection times than its counterparts. This means that if you’re streaming, downloading large files, or gaming, stick with WireGuard to ensure you’re getting the best performance from your connection. For activities such as online shopping, banking, and other things that benefit from strong security then opt for either OpenVPN or WireGuard. Both of these protocols offer robust encryption and security features. OpenVPN utilizes AES-256 bit encryption, which is deemed so secure it’s currently used by the military. Alternatively, WireGuard uses the comparable XChaCha20 encryption protocol, which is increasingly favored by cybersecurity experts. If you want stability on your mobile network, such as when you’re connected to a VPN on the go, it’s probably best to use IKEv2/IPsec. This is down to the fact that it can seamlessly switch between Wi-Fi and cellular networks without disconnecting from the VPN — disconnections like this can be a security risk as they leave your private data exposed. In the end, each VPN protocol is unique and should be utilized according to your own specific needs and situation. If you’re at a loss for which to choose or uncertain based on your current activity, then you really can’t go wrong with WireGuard. Its lightweight design makes it extremely fast and strong encryption provides excellent security. When in doubt, I usually default to WireGuard. Read...

The smart home trend hasn’t let up as all kinds of internet-connected devices continue to make home life more efficient and convenient. But what happens when these smart gadgets are hacked? In a presentation at the Defcon hacking conference, security researchers showed that it’s possible for malicious actors to exploit the smart vacuums and mowers by Ecovacs to secretly hack their microphones and cameras for spying, as TechCrunch reports. Related: Level up your office with these work-from-home gadgets Ecovacs smart robots are frighteningly easy to hack After analyzing several Ecovacs products, security researchers Dennis Giese and Braelynn found a number of problems that could be abused to remotely hack the robots via Bluetooth and secretly switch on their microphones and cameras. According to the researchers, the main vulnerability is that the Ecovacs robots allow any smartphone owner to connect. Hackers could theoretically take control of the robots from a distance of up to 425 feet (130 meters) — and once that’s done, the hackers could potentially connect to the robots from even greater distances, as the robots are also connected to the internet via Wi-Fi. “Their security was really, really, really, really bad,” Giese said in an interview with TechCrunch before the talk. According to the security researchers, it’s also possible to read Wi-Fi login data and stored room maps as well as access microphones and cameras with little effort, all done directly via the robot’s Linux operating system. Related: Smart tricks to keep your home network secure Robot mowers are more vulnerable than robot vacuums The security researchers clarified that the robotic lawn mowers are more vulnerable because their Bluetooth connections are always on, whereas the robotic vacuums are only Bluetooth-active when first switching on and when automatically restarting once per day for 20 minutes. These smart devices have no hardware light or indicator to show that their cameras and/or microphones are on, which makes it hard to know if they’re spying. Some models technically play an audio file every five minutes to indicate an active camera, but this can easily be disabled by hackers who know what they’re doing. “You can basically just delete the file or overwrite it with an empty file. The warnings are therefore no longer played if you access the camera remotely,” said Giese. More security issues with Ecovacs robots In addition to the above risks, the security researchers also identified other vulnerabilities. For example, data stored on Ecovacs’ cloud servers is retained even after a user deletes their account — and that includes the authentication token, meaning someone could sell their robot vacuum after deleting their account and possibly spy on the next owner. Another example is the anti-theft mechanism, which forces the user to enter a PIN whenever the robot is lifted. This feature has been programmed half-heartedly at best, as the PIN is stored in the device in plain text, making it extremely easy for hackers to read. Incidentally, once an Ecovacs robot is compromised, other Ecovacs robots can be subsequently hacked if they’re within range. The following devices were analyzed by the security researchers: Ecovacs Deebot 900 series Ecovacs Deebot N8/T8 Ecovacs Deebot N9/T9 Ecovacs Deebot N10/T10 Ecovacs Deebot X1 Ecovacs Deebot T20 Ecovacs Deebot X2 Ecovacs Goat G1 Ecovacs Spybot Airbot Z1 Ecovacs Airbot AVA Ecovacs Airbot ANDY The researchers said they contacted Ecovacs to report the vulnerabilities but never received a response. The company also didn’t respond to an enquiry sent to them by TechCrunch. Further reading: Burglars are jamming Wi-Fi security cameras Read...

Yesterday ushered in the start of this year’s QuakeCon, the Dallas gaming convention organized by developer id Software. New editions of the legendary shooters Doom and Doom II were presented there, complete with technical improvements and expanded content. Both games are now available together on all the major digital storefronts — including Steam, GOG, Epic Games Store, and Microsoft Store — for just $10. But if you already own one of the two games? You can upgrade to the new version free of charge. Related: Classic PC games you should play again What’s new in the enhanced games? Both Doom and Doom II have been given prettier looks and boosted performance, able to reach 120 FPS at 4K resolution now. The games now also support cross-play multiplayer, meaning you can play online on any platform and compete against players regardless of their platform (i.e., PC, Xbox, PlayStation). The games also include several new deathmatch maps as well as an extended co-op mode for up to 16 players. Thanks to mod support, you can also create new content yourself. Lastly, you’ll find never-before-seen chapters in the Doom story along with a special episode called Sigil, developed by John Romero himself, that fits into the timeline between Doom and Doom II. Related: Ducky’s Doom keyboard is limited to 666 pieces Play the new Doom and Doom II now This freshly updated Doom + Doom II bundle is available immediately while previous versions will disappear. If you already own either game, you can either keep them as they are or upgrade to their newer versions for free. Of course, all the new content and improvements are only available by upgrading. See publisher Bethesda’s official release notes for more info. These upgraded Doom games were released on August 8, 2024 for PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch, more than 30 years after Doom‘s first release in 1993. Read...

Did you know Google Maps has a feature called Travel Time that lets you to see approximately how far you can travel in a given time limit? As of now, this feature works with Walking and Driving navigation, but not Cycling or Public Transportation. It’s also only available in the web version of Google Maps, not the Android or iOS apps. Here’s how you can turn on Travel Time in Google Maps and what makes it such a useful feature to start using. How to enable Travel Time Navigate to maps.google.com in your web browser (you don’t need to be logged in with your Google account), then hover over the bottom-left icon labeled Layers to open a menu. In the hover menu, click More, then look under the Map Tools section and click on Travel Time to enable the feature: Joel Lee / IDG Joel Lee / IDG Joel Lee / IDG Once you enable Travel Time, you’ll see a new panel appear at the bottom-center of Google Maps, and this panel will have grayed-out options for selecting a time limit and method of travel: Joel Lee / IDG Joel Lee / IDG Joel Lee / IDG Now click anywhere on the map to set a starting location. Once a starting location is set, you’ll be able to select a time limit and method of travel, which will then reveal how far you can go in that time. How to use the Travel Time feature Joel Lee / IDG Joel Lee / IDG Joel Lee / IDG With Travel Time, you can choose the following time limits when Walking is the method of travel: 15 minutes 30 minutes And these time limits with Driving selected: 15 minutes 30 minutes 1 hour 2 hours 3 hours 4 hours 6 hours You’ll see a shaded region on the map that shows everywhere you could travel within the time limit via the method of travel. The shaded region won’t necessarily be a circle because different paths may allow for greater travel in certain directions (or be blocked off entirely). Joel Lee / IDG Joel Lee / IDG Joel Lee / IDG Depending on the time limit selected, you may have to zoom out of the map to be able to view the entire shaded region: Joel Lee / IDG Joel Lee / IDG Joel Lee / IDG There are two drawbacks to Travel Time as of this writing: The estimate doesn’t take into account traffic conditions and only represents a general idea of where you could go. It may be inaccurate during rush hour or if there’s an accident somewhere. Not every location currently has Travel Time data, and some locations may only have Driving data but not Walking data. Despite these shortcomings, the Travel Time feature is pretty cool to play around with and can be useful for getting a general idea of where you could possibly go given certain parameters. Read...

When you install Windows 11, you get a wide variety of programs and apps (in the Windows world, these words get mixed up a lot, and they really mean the same thing). Many of them are linked to the operating system itself. For example, you use Explorer to manage your files and Microsoft Defender to protect your computer against attacks. Windows 11 Pro But there are also plenty of free programs that add new features to your computer, such as the drawing program Paint and video editing software Clipchamp. We have collected the most important programs to know about here. They are built into your computer and you access them by clicking the Start button > All apps — or via the Search tool. If any of them are missing from your PC, you can install them yourself via Microsoft Store, the built-in tool that lets you download programs to your computer. Clipchamp: Free video editing at last Mark Hachman / Foundry Mark Hachman / Foundry Mark Hachman / Foundry Nowadays, Windows 11 includes an excellent video editing tool called Clipchamp. It can do all sorts of basic editing of your films. For example, you can trim them, removing the bad material at the beginning and end of most films. You can also split a clip into several parts so that you can remove the bad ones. You can also move the clips around and make the transitions smoother by, for example, inserting a fade or sweep between two clips. Other powerful features include the ability to change the speed of a video clip, apply filters, or adjust lighting and colors. Of course, you can also add music, sound, text, and various graphic elements to your film. All the essential basic features are free, but you can get more if you get a paid subscription. Download Microsoft Clipchamp in the Windows Store. Edge: Smarter browsing with AI Microsoft Microsoft Microsoft Microsoft’s Edge browser keeps getting better. Built on the same technical foundation as market leader Google Chrome, it has no problem displaying some web pages, and you can use most extensions created for Chrome. Edge has a lot of smart tools, the most interesting of which is its connection to Copilot, Microsoft’s AI service. If you tap on the Copilot icon in the top right, you’ll get a toolbar where you can access the same kinds of features as in the AI service Chat GPT. In other words, you can ask questions and get answers directly. You can also let Copilot write everything from appeal emails and blog posts to birthday speeches and poems. Download Microsoft Edge Microsoft Photos: Keep track of all your photos Microsoft Microsoft Microsoft The Photos app does two things: It keeps track of all the photos on your hard drive and on various cloud services, and lets you do advanced searches and fun slideshows. Second, Photos has an editing feature with all the basic functions. For example, you can crop and rotate your photos, and you can adjust light and colors. If you don’t want to do it manually, you can enhance your photos automatically or use different filters. Recently, Photos also got smart AI tools that let you remove backgrounds or unwanted objects. Download Microsoft Photos in the Windows Store Outlook: More than an email client Microsoft Microsoft Microsoft Microsoft has retired the Email and Calendar tools and replaced them with Outlook. The most important component here is the email part, which allows you to manage all your email accounts. These include Hotmail, Live, or Outlook addresses — but Outlook can also handle Gmail, Yahoo, and other email services. Outlook also includes Microsoft’s other productivity tools, i.e. Outlook Calendar, To Do list, and People address book. You can also add shortcuts to other Microsoft services. Download Outlook in the Windows Store Paint: Draw and paint like the pros Microsoft Microsoft Microsoft Microsoft Paint is a program you use to draw and paint. It can also edit your photos in a more advanced way than the Photos app. Recently, Paint got two new features. The first is an AI feature that lets you remove backgrounds on your photos. The second is called Layers and makes it easier to do more advanced image work. Download Paint in the Windows Store Quick Assist: Help your friends Microsoft Microsoft Microsoft Quick Assist is a tool for those who usually help friends and family with their computer problems — and for those who usually need help. What it does is let someone take control of a computer remotely. Using Quick Assist is simple. As a support assistant, click on Help someone and log in to your Microsoft account. You will now receive a code that you give to the person you are helping. They enter the code under the heading Security code from the assistant in the same program. The support assistant can choose between just looking at the computer or checking it completely — and the person to be helped must authorize this. Download Quick Help in the Windows Store Phone link: Connect your computer and mobile phone Microsoft Microsoft Microsoft Pairing a Windows computer with an Android mobile phone is now easy. The Phone Link application allows you to send text messages from your computer, and you can also access photos and notifications. If you can’t find the application on your computer, you need to open Settings > Bluetooth and devices > Phone Link and activate it. For Phone Link to work, you’ll also need to install an app on your mobile phone and make a number of settings. Getting started can be tricky, but when you open the Phone Link application on your computer, a clear guide will show you how to do it. Windows Backup: Automatic backup Microsoft Microsoft Microsoft If you have plenty of space in Microsoft OneDrive, you may benefit from Windows Backup. It copies all files located in the Desktop, Documents, Pictures, Videos, and Music folders to OneDrive — and even your settings are safe. When you open Windows Backup for the first time, a wizard starts to help you set up what and how you want to back up and synchronize. Then, when you get a new computer or reinstall Windows, you’ll get a prompt to restore material from the backup. Notes: Simple word processing with tabs Microsoft Microsoft Microsoft The built-in Notepad application has received several smart innovations in the latest Windows updates. The most interesting is the tabs that allow you to work with multiple notes at the same time. The layout is the same as in most browsers. To use the tabs, press the plus icon at the top right. You can also select File > New Tab (or Ctrl+N). This will open a new tab in the program. Close it with the cross on the right or via the File menu. Another welcome addition is that Notepad now has a spell checker. To control it, you can tap the gear in the top right and make sure Spell Check is enabled. You can also select Auto-correct, which is a function that fixes spelling mistakes itself. More great free programs Family. A tool for those with children who want to control their browsing, gaming, and screen time. Sticky Notes. A digital equivalent of those yellow Post-it notes. Make a note of what you want to remember and stick the note anywhere on the screen. Game Bar. A tool that allows computer gamers to record and share video and still images. In addition, there are tools for making performance measurements of the games. Game Bar is opened with the keyboard shortcut Windows+G. Calculator with graphing function. Microsoft’s calculator can handle both basic maths and more advanced calculations. Camera. Use your computer’s camera to take pictures or film. Maps. Microsoft’s equivalent of Google Maps. Getting started. A simple beginner’s guide that shows you how to use Windows 11. Audio recorder. Use your computer’s microphone to record audio. Media Player. A stripped-down tool that plays music, audio, video, and other media files. Teams. Microsoft’s tool for video meetings. Tips. This app gives you smart ideas from Microsoft’s own engineers. Todo. A to-do list that you can also access via mobile and browser. Xbox. Some of the gaming features from Microsoft’s Xbox game console are available in a Windows 11 app of the same name. Read...

The pair didn`t have basic survival equipment, maps GPS or a locator beacon while temperatures dropped to -4 degrees . Read...

See how close a gunman got to former US president Donald Trump at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania. Read...

Analysis of the results at the general election Read...