What is VPN Chaining? (2024)

In today’s world, cyber threats are rising at an alarming pace. Though a VPN provides protection by creating a secure connection between a private network and a public network, is it sufficient?

Due to the increase in cybercrime and the growing number of internet-connected devices, it might be wise to consider using VPN chaining to encrypt your traffic twice when accessing public networks like the internet.

You might be wondering, what is VPN chaining? Can it improve the security of your connection? Is it a suitable solution for everyone? Find answers to all your questions in our guide to VPN chaining.

Let’s dive in:

VPN chaining: What is it? How does it work?

Before we explain VPN chaining, it is important to know what a single VPN does. Basically, it creates a secure tunnel between your device and a remote VPN server to encrypt all the data you send and receive. In other words, it masks your actual IP address and secures your internet connection to enhance both your online anonymity and privacy.

On the other hand, VPN chaining involves setting up two (or more) VPN servers rather than one to provide an extra encryption layer. Since your traffic is transmitted through two VPN servers, it becomes more secure due to double encryption. However, this process can result in slower internet speeds.

Understanding how VPN chaining safeguards your connections

VPN chaining is also commonly referred to as a nested or multi-hop setup. When it comes to single VPNs, your data goes through the encryption and decryption sequence once. VPN chaining enhances the security of your connection by repeating the same process of steps twice.

In essence, your data is encrypted and then routed to the first VPN server, where it is decrypted and re-encrypted before being sent to the second VPN server for further encryption and decryption. This sequence is repeated until the data reaches its destination.

The same process is followed for incoming data as well, where it is decrypted and re-encrypted by the first VPN server before being routed to the second server for further encryption and decryption.

However, it is important to mention that using VPN chaining does not upgrade your encryption from 256-bit to 512-bit. It simply means that your traffic goes through the encryption and decryption process twice rather than once.

What are the benefits of VPN chaining?

Sending your traffic through two VPN servers has significant benefits, and some of the most prominent ones include:

Dual IP address protection

VPN chaining provides extra protection of your IP address. Once it gets masked by the first VPN server, it is transmitted to the second VPN server, which has no knowledge about the actual IP. Additionally, the websites you access are only able to see the data originating from the second VPN server, making it close to impossible for anyone to discover your IP address.

Improved privacy online

With VPN chaining, you can stop third parties like your ISP or the government from monitoring your online activity or the websites and services you are using. If someone tries to track you, they will only be able to see that you are connected to a VPN service and nothing more.

Double encryption of your data

When you use VPN chaining, your traffic is protected with an additional layer of encryption, which makes decrypting it twice as difficult. It is also possible to use a combination of protocols to give your online activities extra security. For instance, you can set up one VPN server to use UDP and the other to use UDP.

Related Read: TCP vs UDP: What is the Difference Between Both Protocols?

When to use VPN chaining and when not to?

You might want to use VPN chaining if:

• You are a political activist or journalist: Advocating for freedom of speech can put you at risk. By using VPN chaining, you can take additional steps to protect yourself and your sources. Since your data is encrypted twice, you can securely access information and report the news with peace of mind.

• You want to bypass government surveillance: VPN chaining can be a great solution if you live or travel in a country with strict surveillance and censorship practices. Thanks to double encryption, it becomes more difficult for anybody to track your movements.

• You need source protection: When working with vulnerable sources like whistleblowers and informants, it is crucial to take extra measures to protect their identities. With VPN chaining, you can be twice as sure that your conversations stay secure and private.

You are better off without VPN chaining if:

• You want private browsing everyday: If you want to access websites securely or prevent third parties from tracking your real IP address, a single VPN connection is more than enough.

• You need the fastest speeds: VPN chaining can slow down your connection due to the double encryption and decryption process, which is not ideal if you are looking to stream geo-restricted content or download large files.

• You are performing online transactions: If you want to conduct online banking or shopping, a single VPN connection can provide the security you need to keep your sensitive information protected.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between double VPN and VPN chaining?

Double VPN involves connecting to two VPN servers, whereas VPN chaining uses multiple VPN servers. The difference between double VPN and VPN chaining lies in how many servers are involved, and the number of times the traffic is encrypted.

To VPN chain or not to VPN chain?

While VPN chaining certainly has its security advantages, an average internet user may not necessarily need it. For everyday use, a standard VPN should suffice as setting up a VPN chain can be costly, time consuming, and compromise connection speeds to a great extent.