What Is Double VPN & What Are Its Benefits & Drawbacks?

The Wlan Labs team have been asked quite often what is double VPN? A Double VPN is a term used to describe a virtual private network (VPN) setup in which traffic is routed through two different servers. This provides increased security and privacy for the user.

Double VPN can be used to bypass censorship and protect against surveillance. However, it can also slow down your internet connection and may not suit all uses.

This article will discuss what Double VPN is, its benefits and drawbacks, and who might benefit from using it.

How Does A Double VPN Work?

A double VPN is a virtual private network that encrypts your internet traffic twice. That might sound overkill, but it’s a very effective way to protect your online privacy. When you connect to a VPN server, your traffic is encrypted and redirected through that server.

But with a double VPN, your traffic is first encrypted, then sent to a second VPN server, and finally redirected to the internet. This means that your traffic is protected twice: first by the encryption between your device and the first VPN server and then between the first VPN server and the second VPN server.

In addition, a double VPN can also help bypass censorship: if your ISP or government blocks one VPN server, you can still connect through the second VPN server.

A dual-VPN setup is relatively uncommon. The vast majority of service providers do not provide it. A sluggish connection is to blame for the poor popularity of this service.

The slowdown is unavoidable when your traffic is routed via two VPN servers situated in separate countries that are thousands of miles away. It’s also a lot of work to use double encryption since it requires so much memory.

Certain persons may benefit from using a Double VPN, despite all drawbacks. Extra protection is usually a smart idea whether you’re a political activist or a journalist who writes about sensitive themes.

Using two separate VPNs may be a better option from this perspective.

Their primary goal is to make your IP address more obscure and your data more secure by encrypting it twice. It is possible to create triple or quadruple VPNs by adding more servers to the VPN network.

What Happens When You Turn On Double VPN

• Using a virtual private network (VPN) encrypts your internet traffic and transmits it to the first available VPN server.
• The first server encrypts and masks your traffic once again.
• Double-encrypted communication is sent from the first server to the second VPN server.
• The second server decrypts your communication and sends it to the intended recipient.
• The target responds to you in the opposite procedure.
• Consequently, your data travels through two layers of encryption, with the second VPN server’s IP address visible to the target website or service.

Sadly, some suppliers claim to provide double-encryption, but they don’t. Instead, each server is responsible for decrypting your data, which reduces the overall degree of security since intercepting communication from only one of the two servers would be sufficient.

Is Double VPN necessary?

This is a question that many people ask when looking to improve their online privacy and security. While there are certain advantages to using a double VPN, such as increased anonymity and privacy, there are also some disadvantages that should be considered before deciding to use one.

Advantages And Disadvantages Of Double VPN

Although a double VPN is more secure than a kill switch or leak prevention, it is not required. VPN services without multi-hop capabilities might still be considered the finest. Indeed, Double VPN has certain drawbacks that prevent it from being necessary. Let’s get off to a good start instead.

Double VPN Advantages

For the most part, a Double VPN provides additional protection and privacy. The following is a detailed explanation of how it does this:

Double-encryption

Two VPN servers provide virtually unbreakable encryption.

Additional Internet Protocol (IP) addresses

The first server masks your actual IP address, while the second server hides the IP of the first.

Blinding your Internet service provider

However, even if your Internet Service Provider knows that you’ve activated a VPN, your destination website will remain a mystery.

Unknown whereabouts

Using two VPN servers in different countries allows you to hide your online activity from prying eyes. Multi-hop increases the number of layers between your virtual location and your actual location.

Protocol Cocktail

Using both TCP and UDP versions of the OpenVPN tunneling technology increases your security.

Double VPN Disadvantages

For the most part, double VPN was never meant to be used as the default. Because of this, many service providers have yet to adopt or even intend to deploy it. Multi-hop isn’t necessary to pirate securely or unblock a streaming service like Netflix. You should be aware of the following drawbacks before deciding to adopt this method:

Slower speeds are required

Double VPN’s major flaw is this. You’re undoubtedly already aware that using a conventional VPN affects speed, so adding a second server and further encryption may significantly reduce those Mbps. Because of this, turning it off will allow you to stream 4K movies and download large files more quickly.

There is no way to use Tor when connected to a VPN

Utilization of these two functions simultaneously is not possible. However, using Tor or Double VPN would severely slow down surfing.

Energy use

Again, plugged-in devices are not affected by this issue, but mobile devices will see a greater rate of battery loss.

Server preference

At least 50 nations are available in the best Virtual Private Networks. Unfortunately, with a Double VPN, the server selection is much less.

Reduced speed and a limited variety of servers are the primary downsides of Double VPN. This may not be an issue if you have a fast internet connection. If you’re concerned about a shortage of server options, simply know that popular places, such as the United States or the Netherlands, will be enough for most users.

Who Might Benefit From Using A Double VPN?

Certain persons may benefit from using one despite all its drawbacks. Extra protection is usually a bright idea whether you’re a political activist or a journalist who writes about sensitive themes.

If you are concerned about online privacy and security, you may consider using a double VPN. Just be aware of the potential drawbacks and choose a reputable VPN service that offers good speeds and customer support.

Is Double VPN Safer?

There is no such thing as being too safe when it comes to online privacy. That’s why many people choose to use a VPN or virtual private network. A VPN encrypts your internet traffic and routes it through a server in another location, making it difficult for anyone to track your online activity. But what if you’re looking for an even higher level of security? Enter the double VPN.

As the name suggests, a double VPN is simply two VPNs working together. Your traffic is encrypted and routed through two servers in different locations instead of just one. This adds an extra layer of protection, making it even more difficult for anyone to track your online activity.

Onion Over VPN vs Double VPN

VPNs are an important tool for online privacy and security, but there are various types and configurations to choose from. Two popular options are Onion Over VPN and Double VPN. So, which is better?

Onion Over VPN is a configuration that routes your traffic first through a VPN server and then through the Onion Router (Tor). This setup has a few advantages. First, it makes it more difficult for your ISP or anyone snooping on your traffic to know that you’re using Tor.

Second, it can help to improve your connection speed since your traffic isn’t being routed through as many servers. However, Onion Over VPN does have some drawbacks.

First, it’s more complex to set up than a traditional VPN. Second, it can potentially decrease your anonymity since your traffic is first going through a VPN server (which knows your actual IP address).

As we’ve already mentioned, Double VPN is a configuration that routes your traffic through two VPN servers instead of just one. This has the advantage of providing an extra layer of security since your traffic is encrypted twice.

However, it can also decrease your connection speed since your traffic goes through two servers instead of just one. Additionally, Double VPN can be more complex to set up than a traditional VPN.

So, Which Is Better? Onion Over VPN or Double VPN?

It depends on what you’re looking for. Double VPN is a good choice if you’re primarily concerned with security. However, if you’re more concerned with speed and simplicity, Onion Over VPN might be better.

Do you have any experience with either of these configurations? Please let us know in the comments.

Double VPN vs Obfuscated

When it comes to VPNs, there are two main types of “cloaking” options: double VPN vs obfuscated. Both have their pros and cons, so it’s important to understand the difference before choosing which one is right for you.

Double VPN is the more traditional option and involves routing your traffic through two different VPN servers. This can make it more difficult for someone to track your online activity, as your IP address will be changed twice. However, it can also slow down your connection speed, as your traffic has to travel further.

On the other hand, Obfuscated VPN uses unique protocols that make it more difficult for ISPs and other third parties to snoop on your traffic.

This can be beneficial if you live in a country with strict internet censorship laws, as it makes it more difficult for your government to track your online activity. However, it should be noted that obfuscated VPNs are not always as effective as double VPNs, and they can also be more expensive.

So, Which Is Better? Double VPN Or Obfuscated VPN?

Again, it depends on what you’re looking for. If security is your primary concern, then a double VPN is the way to go. However, if you need a more stealthy solution, an obfuscated VPN might be better.

Best Double VPNs With Multi-Hop Features

• NordVPN – Double VPN Features
• Hide.me VPN – Multi-Hop Solution
• Surfshark – Multi-Hop Features
• ProtonVPN – Secure Core Servers
• Windscribe VPN – Multi-hop Servers
• ClearVPN – Double VPN Features

What Is Double VPN? Final Thoughts

You can increase your sense of security and privacy by using a second virtual private network (VPN). Double-encryption makes you much safer online than single-encryption.

The best option for anonymity is a Double VPN if you live in a restricted location or if you are a journalist covering a sensitive topic. Even if you believe you “have nothing to hide,” you should enable this security option using a public wifi network.

Although this service is available from just a small number of providers, the ones that do tend to be well-known, their clients’ privacy is their priority. Thus, they presumably won’t keep logs of traffic.

It is possible to utilize two separate applications or a browser extension instead of a second VPN when a multi-hop option is unavailable.