Proton VPN has now integrated the WireGuard encryption protocol into its Linux app, something that Windows and Mac users have been enjoying for some time.
It's good to see that Proton, one of the best VPN providers, is willing to show some love to fans of the Penguin-based operating system after its Linux app was completely redesigned last year.
Linux holds a prominent place as the world’s largest open-source operating system, making it a popular choice for privacy-conscious individuals. With the addition of WireGuard (using ChaCha20 encryption), Proton VPN is now clearly aiming for the best Linux VPNs.
What is WireGuard?
WireGuard is an encryption protocol (a method of making your online data unreadable by anyone who isn’t supposed to see it) that is much faster than the OpenVPN standard used by many VPN apps. This alternative encryption method is a much lighter way to hide your data. OpenVPN consists of over 400,000 lines of code while WireGuard only has 4,000.
That doesn’t mean it’s more secure (in fact, OpenVPN is better at obfuscation, which is hiding the fact that you’re using a VPN), but it is a lot faster. The fastest VPNs use WireGuard for blazing speeds, and when combined with its VPN Accelerator technology, Proton estimates that speeds can increase by up to 400%. A super-fast VPN isn’t much of a deal breaker for just browsing the internet, but if you’re torrenting, streaming, or gaming, it can make a world of difference.
The lightweight nature of WireGuard also helps to significantly reduce the battery consumption of your device, meaning you can use Linux for longer. Since it’s a much smaller amount of code compared to OpenVPN, it’s also much easier to audit and fix security issues.
David Peterson, CEO of Proton VPN, said: “As an open source company focused on privacy, Proton has a particularly strong Linux user base. This user demand encouraged us to invest time and effort into building a full-fledged Linux application. We are excited to launch WireGuard on Linux as it has been long requested by our community and we want to provide the best possible VPN experience for our users.”
Proton VPN on Linux
Many people who have problems with Windows and MacOS use Linux, but the Proton VPN Linux app still lacks some features found in these more common versions.
One of the most notable features is the split tunneling feature that allows users to run some applications through the VPN and others over a standard Wi-Fi connection. The Linux offering also lacks Proton's “Stealth” encryption protocol, which hides the fact that you're using a VPN.
Of course, Proton has one thing going for it: it offers a great free VPN. No matter what platform you’re on, you can try it out without investing any money.
Overall, this is a big step forward from one of the leading VPN services, and we can't wait to see where it takes us next.