What is WireGuard?

WireGuard is a VPN protocol —the way that a client (like your computer or phone) communicates with a VPN server. You might also hear “WireGuard” refer to the app you can run on your devices as well.

It only supports UDP, which uses no handshake protocols. That's one of the reasons why it's so fast. It can skip the checks that OpenVPN TCP has to perform.

• NordVPN – best VPN using WireGuard technology
• Surfshark – fast WireGuard VPN with unlimited connections
• IPVanish – WireGuard VPN with secure browsing features
• Atlas VPN – excellent budget VPN with WireGuard
• CyberGhost – cheap VPN with a fast WireGuard solution

Pros & cons

WireGuard is a game-changer in the world of VPNs and it has some great advantages that play important roles in the cybersecurity sector. Here, you can see why this tunnel is as respected as it is:

• Agility. WireGuard connects and reconnects fast, even when you’re roaming across networks. It stays connected in situations where other VPN protocols would falter. Other VPN protocols sometimes feel brittle or clunky by comparison.
• Security. Compared to other VPN software, WireGuard chooses smart, modern cryptographic primitives with secure defaults. Plus, it’s very small and simple in relation to older protocols, meaning that security researchers can audit it much more easily.
• Speed. WireGuard uses fast cryptography code. Plus, its low-level component lives within the Linux kernel (on servers and Linux desktops), making it faster than userspace VPNs.
• Ease of deployment. Both the client and server parts of WireGuard are really easy to install. You can download ready-to-go client apps for desktops and mobile devices from the platform app store. On the server side, setting up WireGuard is not much harder than configuring SSH, a task that nearly every IT professional is familiar with.

However, to get something great, we must sacrifice something in return. Therefore, WireGuard also comes with some issues:

• Baked-in support. Even though WireGuard offers client apps for every major platform, it doesn’t work without extra software except on some Linux distros. If you want to use a VPN on a device where you can’t install apps, you’ll need to use a different protocol.
• Obfuscation. The WireGuard project does not seek to build a VPN that counters deep-packet inspection. If, for example, you’re trying to get through the Great Firewall of China, WireGuard by itself won’t do the trick. However, WireGuard’s architecture allows it to support obfuscation tunnels as a layer on top.

How does WireGuard work?

WireGuard uses state-of-the-art cryptography and network code to create an encrypted tunnel between two devices based on symmetric encryption, and more. Using some clever strategies, it even works when the client device’s IP address changes. For example, you can switch from mobile data to Wi-Fi without waiting thirty seconds for the VPN to reconnect.

Is WireGuard secure?

WireGuard is a secure tunneling protocol. In fact, owing to its use of modern, well-vetted cryptography, WireGuard is one of the safest VPN protocols out there. Without compromising either the VPN server or your client device, an external attacker can’t figure out much about your browsing.

What undoubtedly contributes to its safety is that its code is very streamlined and uses fewer lines of code than, i.e., OpenVPN. The less complex setup, the less it's prone to errors and misconfigurations. All of this adds to your overall safety.