AES-256 encryption is one of the most secure encryption standards used worldwide today, often called the "gold standard" in cybersecurity. It is a widely adopted encryption algorithm across various industries; many VPN services employ this algorithm to protect user data from malicious cyberattacks and unauthorized access.
What is AES-256 encryption?
The Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) was established as a U.S. government standard by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in 2001 and is a symmetric encryption algorithm. It is now the most widely used encryption standard globally, surpassing older standards like the Data Encryption Standard (DES). The "256" in AES-256 refers to the encryption key's length, which is 256 bits long, making it highly resistant to brute-force attacks.
AES works by taking data and converting it into indecipherable ciphertext using a series of complex mathematical operations and multiple encryption rounds. In the case of AES-256, there are 14 rounds of transformation, significantly increasing the complexity to the extent that unauthorized decryption is virtually impossible without a valid key.
Why is AES-256 encryption so secure?
The key length of 256 bits for AES-256 encryption results in an astronomical number of potential key combinations—2^256, or about 1.1 x 10^77 combinations. (For context, a brute-force attack using even the most powerful supercomputers on Earth would take billions of years to break a single AES-256 key.)
In addition to brute-force resistance, AES-256 provides:
- Block-based encryption: Each AES block encrypts fixed data (128 bits), maintaining the same security level for each piece of encrypted data.
- Symmetric encryption: This type uses the same key for both sender and receiver, reducing complexity and simplifying secure implementation.
- Real-time performance at scale: Despite AES-256 being a complex algorithm, it is optimized for high-speed performance, making it suitable for real-time applications like VPNs.
Why do VPN services use it?
VPNs enhance user privacy, keep data secure, and protect internet connections. This makes AES-256 encryption an ideal choice for this purpose:
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Mighty shield against cyberattacks
VPNs secure data transmitted over the internet to prevent interception by third parties, including hackers and internet service providers (ISPs) to governments. VPNs use AES-256 encryption, ensuring data is captured in encrypted form, meaning it cannot be read without the decryption key. -
Privacy assurance
The primary purpose of a VPN is to provide privacy by obscuring user activities from any external monitoring. AES-256 is resistant to cryptanalysis and thus cannot be decoded by malicious actors or monitoring entities. This level of encryption helps protect users' browsing habits, location, and personal information from discovery or tracking. -
Resistance against brute-force attacks
VPN providers face constant attempts to break into encrypted data. AES-256's vast number of possible keys makes it incredibly resistant to brute-force attacks where attackers try all possible combinations. Long-term data protection is crucial for VPNs used in environments where adversaries may employ advanced methods. -
Performance optimization
AES-256 runs efficiently on modern processors, enabling VPNs to offer secure yet stable connections. These features and capabilities allow VPN services to support high data transfer rates without compromising encryption strength, providing the best user experience. -
Compliance with regulatory and industry standards
AES-256 encryption is frequently used to meet regulatory requirements in various sectors, such as financial services and healthcare, regarding data security. For VPN services, AES-256 not only offers security benefits but also compliance with standards like GDPR and HIPAA. This instills confidence in users, as adopting AES-256 aligns VPN providers with best practices in data security.
Disadvantages of AES-256
AES-256 encryption offers high-level security, but it is not without flaws. Devices with low processing power may experience slower VPN speeds, as the encryption process becomes less efficient. Furthermore, although AES-256 encryption helps secure data, it does not prevent the VPN provider from collecting that information. For complete privacy, users should choose VPN services that enforce a No-logs policy in addition to AES-256 encryption.
VPNs that offer AES-256 encryption:
- Surfshark VPN (The biggest draw of Surfshark VPN is that you can connect an unlimited number of devices to a single subscription, which is not the case with most other VPN providers.).
- NordVPN (Strong privacy protection with military-grade encryption. It offers a large server network, allowing for fast and reliable connections, and is superb at unblocking streaming services. It has a few unique features such as strong security, fast speeds, and global coverage.).
- ExpressVPN (One of the most popular VPN services is ExpressVPN, which has servers in over 100 countries globally. Quick, secure, trustworthy, anonymous.).
- TurboVPN (TurboVPN is a popular and ultra-fast VPN service. It has servers across over 110 locations and a simple user interface.).
- Proton VPN (Proton VPN is a well-known VPN service with over 10 million users and is located in Switzerland. The pricing is not inexpensive either, but you receive stable and super-fast speeds along with every protection and innovative data solutions in return.).
- VeePN (VeePN is a very popular VPN service with over 40 million active users. It has a reasonable price and an easy-to-learn interface for all platforms.).
- PureVPN (PureVPN is a fairly successful VPN service at low prices.).
- IPVanish (IPVanish provides a cost-effective 2-year plan, ideal for those who want to use it for a while.).
- PrivateVPN (PrivateVPN is a VPN provider based in Sweden.).
