SSTP VPN Protocol – SSTP vs PPTP vs L2TP Which is Best?

April 21, 2023 By Nick Anderson No Comments 6 minutes

Secure Socket Tunneling Protocol (SSTP) is a type of virtual private network (VPN) protocol that allows for secure, remote access to the web. Being a property of Microsoft, it is mainly used with Windows-based operating systems.

SSTP VPN Protocol

SSTP uses the HTTPS protocol over TCP port 443 to establish a secure connection between a client and a server. Most firewalls and web proxies can be bypassed when using HTTPS.

Furthermore, SSTP provides SSL 3.0 encryption which is hard to block compared to the other PPTP and L2TP protocols.

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How Does the Secure Socket Tunneling Protocol (SSTP) Work?

SSTP wraps PPP (Point-to-Point Protocol) packets in an SSL/TLS session. PPP is a standard protocol that lets two nodes connect directly to each other. The PPP packets are encrypted by the SSL/TLS session, which makes them safe and private. It adds a security layer by sending the data over the internet without anyone else being able to intercept or read it.

Pros of SSTP include:

Its the ability to bypass most firewalls, as HTTPS traffic is typically allowed through.
Its use of the HTTPS protocol is widely trusted.
It uses a certificate-based authentication mechanism, which provides an additional layer of security.
It provides a high level of encryption, making it difficult for anyone to intercept or read the transmitted data.

Cons of SSTP include:

It is only available on Windows operating systems, making it less widely supported than other VPN protocols like OpenVPN.
It requires more technical knowledge and effort to set up and use than other VPN protocols.
It is a proprietary technology and is closed-source, which means it is not transparent and auditable.
It is not open to third-party security researchers to test and improve the protocol.

Is SSTP only for Windows?

SSTP VPN Protocol is primarily used on Windows operating systems. It uses the built-in functionality of the operating system to establish and maintain VPN connections. The SSTP is built into all versions of Windows Vista and later, making it easy to use for Windows users. However, SSTP is not supported on other operating systems such as Linux, macOS, iOS, and Android. Third-party SSTP VPNs are available for these platforms, but they may require additional setup and configuration.

What port does SSTP use?

SSTP uses TCP port 443 to establish a secure connection. Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) is one of the core protocols of the Internet Protocol (IP) suite and is responsible for ensuring that data is delivered reliably and in order. Port 443 is the well-known port number for HTTPS (HTTP Secure) traffic, which is a secure version of HTTP. It is typically used for online transactions, such as online shopping or banking.

How does Port 443 work?

Port 443 works by allowing secure connections between a device and a server. When you connect to a server using port 443, the server sends back an SSL/TLS certificate, which the device verifies. Once the certificate is verified, the device and server establish an SSL/TLS session, which encrypts all data transmitted between them. This encryption ensures that the data is private and secure, even if it is intercepted by an attacker.

SSTP vs. OpenVPN, which is best?

OpenVPN and SSTP are both VPN protocols, but they work differently and have different strengths. SSTP uses the HTTPS protocol over TCP port 443 to establish a secure connection, making it easy to bypass firewalls and other network restrictions. OpenVPN, on the other hand, uses a custom protocol and can be configured to use various ports, making it more flexible.

SSTP is only available on Windows operating systems, while OpenVPN is available on a wide range of platforms, including Windows, Linux, macOS, iOS, and Android. SSTP is considered more firewall-friendly than OpenVPN, as it uses the HTTPS protocol, which is typically allowed through firewalls. OpenVPN, on the other hand, is more configurable and can be fine-tuned to suit specific needs.

SSTP vs. OpenVPN In terms of security

OpenVPN is considered more secure than SSTP as it uses a more robust encryption algorithm and offers a wide range of configuration options. OpenVPN is also open-source, which means it is transparent, auditable, and can be improved by third-party security researchers.

The choice between these two protocols depends on the user’s requirements and the operating system. However, OpenVPN is more reliable in comparison to SSTP.

Closed source – SSTP VPN Protocol

SSTP is a closed-source VPN protocol, which means that the source code is not publicly available. This means that it is not transparent and auditable, and it is not open to third-party security researchers to test and improve the protocol. However, it was developed by Microsoft and is considered more secure than PPTP and L2TP.

SSTP vs PPTP vs L2TP

SSTP is considered reliable and more secure than PPTP and L2TP as it uses SSL/TLS for encryption. PPTP (Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol) is an older VPN protocol that is considered less secure than SSTP and L2TP (Layer 2 Tunneling Protocol). L2TP is considered more secure than PPTP but less secure than SSTP.

How to create an SSTP VPN connection in Linux Mint

To create an SSTP VPN connection in Linux Mint, you will need to use a third-party SSTP VPN client. The process will vary depending on the device you choose to use, but generally, you will need to install the client, configure it to connect to an SSTP server and enter your login credentials.

SSTP – can it be used on Android and ios?

SSTP can be used on Android and iOS devices, but it is not a built-in feature and will require a third-party app to be installed. There are some third-party SSTP VPN clients available for these platforms, but they may require additional setup and configuration.

FAQs – SSTP VPN Protocol

Does SSTP use TCP or UDP?

SSTP only runs over port 443. OpenVPN can run on arbitrary ports, including port 443. While most VPN protocols default to using the UDP protocol, SSTP exclusively uses the TCP protocol

What is SSTP VPN protocol?

SSTP (Secure Socket Tunneling Protocol) is a VPN (Virtual Private Network) protocol that uses SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) encryption to provide a secure and private connection between a client and a server.

How does SSTP VPN protocol work?

When a client wants to establish a connection with a server using SSTP, it first initiates a connection request. The server responds by sending its SSL certificate to the client. The client then verifies the certificate and sends a request to establish a tunnel. The server responds by creating a secure tunnel between the client and the server, allowing the client to access the server's resources securely.

What are the advantages of using the SSTP VPN protocol?

SSTP VPN protocol offers several advantages, including: Security: SSTP uses SSL encryption to secure the connection between the client and server. Portability: SSTP uses the HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure) port, which is commonly open on most networks, making it easier to establish a connection. Firewall-friendly: Since SSTP uses the HTTPS port, it can bypass most firewalls and proxies that might block other VPN protocols.

Is the SSTP VPN protocol secure?

Yes, the SSTP VPN protocol is secure. It uses SSL encryption to provide a secure and private connection between the client and server.

Can the SSTP VPN protocol be blocked?

It is possible to block the SSTP VPN protocol by blocking the HTTPS port used by the protocol. However, since the HTTPS port is commonly open on most networks, it is less likely to be blocked than other VPN protocols.

How do I set up the SSTP VPN protocol?

The steps for setting up the SSTP VPN protocol depending on your specific VPN service. Generally, you will need to download and install the VPN client software and then follow the instructions provided by the VPN service to configure the SSTP VPN connection.

Final Verdict – SSTP VPN Protocol

SSTP is a closed-source VPN protocol developed by Microsoft, considered more secure than PPTP and L2TP but less flexible and configurable than OpenVPN. It is primarily used on Windows operating systems but can be used on other platforms with the help of third-party clients. SSTP uses TCP port 443 to establish a secure connection, and it is firewall-friendly. Setting up and using an SSTP VPN connection may require a bit more technical knowledge and effort than other VPN protocols.