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Private Internet Access (PIA) is a popular VPN service that offers secure VPN protocols and encryption ciphers, including WireGuard and AES-256. In our tests, we found that both NordVPN and PIA provide excellent security features, with no IP or DNS leaks recorded and functioning kill switches. However, NordVPN stands out with its additional security offerings, such as obfuscated servers and double VPN.
Encryption and Security Comparison
Both NordVPN and PIA offer secure VPN protocols, including WireGuard and OpenVPN, which are known for their speed and security. NordVPN has an advantage in this category, as it also offers obfuscated servers and double VPN for enhanced privacy.
Here is a summary of NordVPN and PIA’s encryption and security performance:
|VPN|Encryption & Security Rating|VPN Protocols|Encryption Cipher|Kill Switch|Leak Protection|RAM-based Servers|Open-Source Apps|Colocated Servers|
|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|
|NordVPN|9.9|WireGuard & OpenVPN|AES-256 & ChaCha20|Yes|Yes|Yes|No|Yes|
|PIA|9.3|WireGuard & OpenVPN|AES-256 & ChaCha20|Yes|Yes|Yes|Yes|No|
VPN Protocols
Both NordVPN and PIA support WireGuard and OpenVPN on all devices. WireGuard is recommended for unblocking content, while OpenVPN provides maximum security. Both VPNs use AES-256 encryption for OpenVPN and ChaCha20 encryption for WireGuard, which are considered secure and have no known vulnerabilities.
Customizable Encryption Cipher
PIA allows users to customize the encryption cipher used for OpenVPN connections. Users can choose between AES-128 or AES-256 for encryption and RSA-2048 or SHA-384 for the handshake operation. This feature is beneficial for advanced users who want precise control over their encryption settings. NordVPN, on the other hand, offers a simpler approach to encryption for casual users.
Leak Protection
Both NordVPN and PIA passed all our tests for IP, DNS, and WebRTC leaks. They effectively hide the user’s real network details, providing a secure browsing experience. Additionally, both VPNs operate their own DNS servers, ensuring that the user’s web requests are not visible to their ISP.
Kill Switch
To prevent IP address leaks in case of VPN connection failure, both NordVPN and PIA have kill switches. These kill switches are available on various platforms, including Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android. NordVPN also offers a kill switch for Linux VPN software.
During our tests, we deliberately disconnected the VPN connection while running an IP checker tool, and both NordVPN and PIA successfully protected our IP address. NordVPN provides more control with its app-specific kill switch and an internet kill switch that blocks all traffic if the VPN connection goes down. PIA has a unique kill switch feature that blocks the internet connection until the VPN app launches.
Ad Blocker
Both NordVPN and PIA include ad blockers with their VPN subscriptions. PIA’s ad blocker, called PIA MACE, is considered the best on the market, blocking 80% of ads and 100% of analytics trackers. NordVPN’s ad blocker, called Threat Protection, is a close second, blocking 20% fewer ads and 36% fewer analytics trackers than PIA MACE.
Additional Security Features
While both NordVPN and PIA offer advanced security features, NordVPN stands out with its wider range of offerings. Here are some advanced security features that NordVPN has that are missing from PIA:
- Obfuscated servers: These servers help users bypass censorship and access restricted content.
- Double VPN: This feature routes your internet traffic through two VPN servers for enhanced privacy.
- Colocated servers: NordVPN’s colocated servers provide greater server privacy and security.
- Onion over VPN: This feature allows easy connections to the TOR network for added anonymity.
On the other hand, PIA’s major security feature that NordVPN lacks is open-sourced apps. This means that anyone can view the code running Private Internet Access, reducing the risk of security vulnerabilities.
Conclusion
In conclusion, both NordVPN and PIA offer secure VPN protocols and encryption ciphers, ensuring a safe browsing experience. However, NordVPN comes out on top with its additional security features, including obfuscated servers and double VPN. PIA’s customizable encryption cipher and open-sourced apps are notable features, but they are outweighed by the comprehensive security offerings of NordVPN.
Overall, NordVPN is the winner in terms of encryption and security, providing users with advanced features and a user-friendly experience.