

What is a Double VPN?
Posts by Colin TanApril 11, 2023
People are becoming increasingly concerned about their safety, security, and privacy.
And it’s no surprise if you’re one of them.
Because numerous threats can make your digital footprint extremely vulnerable.
Man-in-the-middle attacks, dictionary attacks, DOS & DDOS attacks, Phishing attempts, malware, ransomware threats, and other threats are among these.
To circumvent all of these challenges, people are looking for a comprehensive solution, which they can obtain in the form of a VPN.
A VPN is a tool that not only protects your digital footprint, increases your privacy, and hides your identity but also provides other benefits.
It is handy when your ISP, telecom operator, or network administrator restricts your bandwidth due to excessive usage.
Furthermore, VPNs can assist you in dealing with internet censorship and increasing your access to geo-restricted content.
Along with this, you can download a torrent with fewer seeds, play online games, and watch your favorite shows without lag.
After becoming accustomed to these features, many users believe they can improve the capabilities of a VPN, and the good news is that they can.
Many good VPNs include a double VPN.
So, what is a double VPN feature? It is a feature that allows amplifying the effect of standard VPN features like encryption, traffic re-routing, traffic camouflage, and more.
It is a feature that not only improves your privacy but also offers load-balancing capabilities.
In this post, we will explain what this fantastic feature is and what it does.
How does it work? When will you be able to use it? What are its benefits and drawbacks? And even more.
So, let us begin at the beginning.
What is a Double VPN?
Many good VPNs allow users to use their Double VPN feature, which allows them to route their data from two VPN servers simultaneously.
As a result, data passing through these servers receive all VPN security features twice.
It will add an extra layer of security and keep hackers, crackers, trackers, government agencies, ISPs, and others at bay.
With this double VPN protection, a user is not only protected from malicious users, but they are also protected from online censorship and speed throttling.
A Double VPN routes all of your data through two separate VPN servers that can be located in two different physical locations around the world.
It will make data more secure because ISPs and other telecom operators will have no idea what is going on within the data stream.
With all of its benefits and numerous applications, a double VPN is not something you will use regularly, and as a result, not many VPN providers include this feature in their tools.
Because this functionality is not required by everyone all of the time, fewer people use it in critical situations where privacy is the most important factor.
In most cases, standard VPN features such as military-grade encryption, a kill switch, DNS and IP leak protection, Netguard, and others are sufficient to meet the needs of the user.
You may be wondering why we would use a Double VPN if a standard VPN is sufficient.
That is a valid question, and we will attempt to answer it in the following section.
Why Should We Use a Double VPN?
A Double VPN improves your security and privacy with its amazing features, but its use is entirely dependent on your needs.
If you value your privacy and want to double your security and privacy, a double VPN is a good option to consider.
With the double VPN, your data is transmitted from two different servers in two different physical locations so that if one server fails or is breached, the second one will protect your digital footprint.
It means that if you are performing a highly sensitive task that necessitates a high level of security, you should use a dual VPN.
These duties could include:
- When you are under the surveillance of any entity (government, law enforcement, ISPs, telecom operators, hackers, and others)
- when censorship prevents you from watching your favorite shows or movies.
- When it comes to your banking information, e-commerce data, and personal information.
- If you are writing an article against government injustice, political influences, or any other wrongdoing by the country’s authoritative figures.
In any of the above conditions or more, the double VPN ensures complete anonymity, security, and privacy for whistleblowers, journalists, activists, ordinary people, gamers, and so on.
When is a Double VPN not Required?
Despite its broad application spectrum, there are some situations where a Double VPN is not required.
Among these conditions are the following:
- For normal day-to-day activities such as internet browsing, downloading and uploading, video conferencing, and others
- When speed is critical, such as when playing online games, accessing cloud content, video streaming, and so on.
- When you require multiple server support
- When using TOR over VPN
A Double VPN is not recommended in any of these scenarios because it is a resource-intensive feature.
How Does a Double VPN Work?
After knowing all about what is a Double VPN and why you should use it, you may be wondering how does it work?
A double VPN chain uses two VPN servers to encrypt your data twice, making it impossible for a hacker, scammer, or cracker to infiltrate.
To learn more about the functionalities of Double VPN and how it differs from standard VPNs in providing us with the necessary safety and security, we must first understand its step-by-step working procedure.
So let’s get started with the steps.
- When you launch and connect the VPN tool to which you have subscribed, it assigns you an IP address from the pool of addresses available on the first server.
- After obtaining an IP address, it will create a secure tunnel between your PC and the VPN server.
- The VPN now encrypts your data before it is transmitted over the tunnel using the available encryption mechanism.
- The data is now being sent through the tunnel to the first VPN server.
- The first VPN server will now mask your IP address and encrypt your data.
- This encrypted data is then sent to the second VPN server, which decrypts the data and IP address.
- Once the second VPN server has determined the destination IP address, it will redirect the data to its intended destination.
For incoming traffic, the process is repeated in reverse order. In this manner, hackers, ISPs, and other entities are unable to access the data.
Different Variations of Double VPN
Many service providers implement it in a variety of ways to improve the security and privacy parameters of users’ digital footprints, including the following:
Cascade VPN Variant
It is a Multihop or Double VPN variant in which one primary server and two or more service VPN servers are used in a chain to provide IP swapping, encryption, and decryption services.
A provider can use up to four VPN server combinations, with the user’s data and IP address encrypted and decrypted on each hop.
It is a method that makes it difficult for an eavesdropper or hacker to obtain the actual information because the hacker may know the VPN’s entry point but not the exit node.
Even if the eavesdropper gains access to the entry and exit nodes, he may not obtain the data because the attacker will only receive an encrypted text transmission to the other VPN.
The Nested Chain VPN Variant
It is another method of configuring a double VPN or multi-hop VPN to protect the privacy of the user.
In this variation, the provider employs two or more VPNs located in different locations.
The provider configures both VPN servers so that one VPN runs on top of the other.
Although the setup is simpler, the result is brilliant because the robustness is hidden beneath the process of encrypting the data and swapping the IP with the proxy server’s IP address.
It will speed up the entire process because only one encryption will be performed throughout.
Who Can Make the Most out Of Double VPN?
Although the Double VPN is a fantastic feature, not everyone can reap the full benefits.
These are the people who need a little more security, privacy, and anonymity on the internet than the average user.
Their categories could be as follows:
Human Rights or Political Activist
Some countries dislike being targeted by social activists, human rights organizations, and others.
As these organizations express their concerns and questions about any government’s policies.
To deal with these situations, governments impose a ban or strict surveillance over the internet.
In this case, however, the activist can use the Double VPN feature to protest against such entities.
Journalists
A dual VPN could also help journalists who want to report serious misbehavior by an influential person or even a government.
Unbiased reporting could land them in jail or other similar consequences.
As a result, a Double VPN is an effective means for them to communicate with their informers and voice their concerns to national and international bodies.
WhistleBlowers
Whistleblowers, like activists and journalists, are individuals who may be victimized by any corporate, influential entity, or government authority.
As they may report corruption, misbehavior, or any other activity that could land them in hot water.
To maintain their privacy and conceal their identity, they must use the Double VPN feature when reporting an issue or publishing an article or blog.
A Double VPN ensures the security of their digital footprint by using an IP swapping mechanism and multiple implementations of military-grade encryption mechanisms.
Advantages and Limitations of a Double VPN
Although we have seen the impact that a Double VPN has on various individuals, it is still a feature that is not widely used by the general public daily.
To understand why, we must first learn about the benefits and drawbacks it provides.
Advantages of Double VPN
Double VPN provides us with several benefits that come in handy when dealing with various security and privacy situations.
These circumstances may include the following:
Protection Against Cyberattacks
The layered architecture of Double VPN makes it difficult for hackers and snoopers to process your data to obtain the origin and destination IP addresses.
The result will be the same whether the provider uses the cascading or nested variant.
It will make revealing the user’s identity nearly impossible.
The geographical distribution of VPN servers makes it nearly impossible for a hacker or snooper to gain direct access to all servers at the same time.
Prevention of Geo-Restrictions
Many countries restrict specific platforms and content to their borders.
It will deprive the rest of the world.
Flixtor, ITV HUB UK, Tubi, and others are examples of such conditions.
So, if you want to bypass content restrictions, a Double VPN could be your best friend.
It encapsulates your IP address and connects you to a server located in the same country as the content and platform.
Once connected to the desired server, it will grant you access to the content by verifying and assuming your VPN server’s IP address is the legitimate user’s IP address.
Make Your Online Footprint Truly Anonymous
Double VPN ensures that your digital footprint is anonymous to all entities, whether government or ISP.
The availability of multiple servers in a chain that split the information among themselves is the reason for this phenomenon.
As a result, one of the servers may be aware of your true IP address while the other is processing your data.
Make the Most out Of Protocols
As we all know, Open VPN has its own set of advantages that a VPN can take advantage of; however, in the case of a Double VPN, this advantage is enhanced.
Because the Double VPN uses TCP and UDP protocols concurrently, it improves the Open VPN’s security, privacy, and speed.
Data Leak Protection
A Double VPN encrypts data with a military-grade encryption algorithm at each server. This renders the data unreadable and undetectable even if it is leaked.
Disadvantages of Double VPN
After learning about the advantages of Double VPN, you may be tempted to skip over this fascinating VPN feature.
But, before you jump to conclusions, consider this: if a Double VPN has so many benefits, why hasn’t every VPN implemented it, and why is it so unpopular among the general public?
The answer is that it is not intended to meet your daily needs and has many drawbacks that keep it a step behind standard VPN implementation.
So, let’s go over some of the disadvantages of this feature.
Fewer Server Availability
Because the Double VPN is a resource-intensive feature, few providers include it in their products.
And those who have integrated this feature have only equipped a small number of servers.
However, the providers choose their locations carefully so that the greatest number of people can benefit from them.
Consume a Lot of Resources
Double VPN enhances safety and security by routing data to multiple servers, each of which encrypts the data using military-grade encryption.
And this activity will be repeated across all available instances, consuming a significant amount of energy, memory, processing power, bandwidth, and other resources.
Too Costly
According to a well-known proverb, there is no such thing as a free lunch in this world.
This philosophy is carried forward by the Double VPN.
Because it is available in comprehensive, most premium, and top-level VPN packages, it is only available to a select group of people.
These are the individuals who genuinely require a sensitive, confidential, and trustworthy connection to carry out their activities without interference.
No Tor Browser Support
Tor browser is also known for providing and maintaining a secure and private channel for sensitive data transmission.
However, using it with the Double VPN can result in serious bandwidth throttling, which will eventually kill the VPN’s purpose.
FAQs
Is a Double VPN More Secure than The Standard One?
Theoretically and practically, the Double VPN is incomparable to the Standard VPN because it performs all security and privacy measures twice as many times as a Standard VPN.
This makes it extremely difficult for a hacker to gain access to a server and read the data.
Because one server holds the data, and the other has the destination’s IP address.
Can My ISP or Government Trace the Data Over Double VPN?
No, no entity can track the data because Double VPN distributes it across the number of available VPN servers.
And then, all of these servers encrypt the data in the first place.
As a result, if an ISP or another entity obtains the data, it is useless.
Which VPN Providers Allow the Double VPN Feature?
Because double VPN is a costly and resource-intensive function, few VPN providers include it in their products.
However, some of the industry’s biggest names continue to support this fantastic feature.
The following is a list of these VPN service providers.
1. NordVPN – 🏆 Winner!
2. Surfshark
3. Atlas VPN
4. IP Vanish
5. Proton VPN
Conclusion
Today, privacy and security are major concerns, so many people are taking the initiative to subscribe to premium VPN services.
Double VPN is one of those services that are only available to a small number of people.
In this post, we attempted to provide a thorough understanding of this technology, including what is a double VPN, how it works, and its benefits and drawbacks.
In addition, we have highlighted the features that distinguish it from standard VPNs.