IPVanish, one of the leading and most reputable VPN providers, has rolled out full support for the next-generation WireGuard protocol. This update provides IPVanish users with significantly faster speeds, improved connection stability, and enhanced security across all major platforms including Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux and more.
For streamers, gamers and any power user who relies on their VPN for speed, IPVanish‘s implementation of WireGuard is a total game-changer. Let‘s take a hands-on look at what this new protocol brings to the table.
A Quick Primer: What is a VPN and How Does it Work?
Before we dive into the specifics around WireGuard, let‘s step back and cover the VPN basics. A Virtual Private Network, or VPN, allows you to create a secure, encrypted tunnel between your device and the internet. All traffic is routed through this tunnel to keep your online activity, location, and identity hidden.
VPN services like IPVanish run servers around the world that you can connect to, masking your true IP address with one from the VPN server‘s location. This allows you to bypass geographic restrictions, shield your traffic from prying eyes on public WiFi, torrent securely, and enjoy peace of mind online.
There are a few different underlying protocols that power the encrypted connections offered by VPN services:
Up until now, OpenVPN has been the most common protocol across VPN platforms. But that‘s starting to change with the emergence of WireGuard and its technical advantages over legacy protocols.
Introducing WireGuard: The Next Evolution in VPN Connectivity
Created by security researcher and kernel developer Jason Donenfeld, WireGuard is an open source protocol that uses state-of-the-art cryptography and coding practices to deliver faster, more secure, more stable VPN connections than predecessors like OpenVPN.
Some of the standout benefits offered by WireGuard include:
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Blazing fast speeds – WireGuard‘s efficiency results in significantly higher speeds than OpenVPN and IKEv2, reducing latency and eliminating buffering. Many users report 20-50% faster downloads and uploads.
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Enhanced security – WireGuard relies on industry-leading cryptographic techniques like Curve25519, ChaCha20, Poly1305, and BLAKE2s to keep your traffic private.
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Minimal battery drain – Clean, lean code gives WireGuard a much smaller footprint. This saves battery life, especially helpful on mobile.
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Easier connections – Setting up WireGuard is a breeze compared to the certificate/key process of OpenVPN. Just install and connect.
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Robust stability – With just 4,000 lines of code, WireGuard suffers far fewer bugs and crashes than other protocols.
According to VPN performance testing firm VPNtier, WireGuard comfortably outpaces alternatives like OpenVPN and IKEv2 across benchmarks:
Real-world speed improvements will vary based on your network conditions. But it‘s clear WireGuard delivers vastly superior performance, security, and stability.
Step-by-Step: Enabling WireGuard on IPVanish
Transitioning to WireGuard from OpenVPN or other protocols is quick and easy with IPVanish across all your devices:
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Download and install the latest IPVanish app for Windows, MacOS, iOS, Android, Linux, FireOS or Chromebook.
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Launch the IPVanish app and log into your account.
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Navigate to Settings > VPN Protocol.
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Select WireGuard UDP or TCP.
That‘s all there is to it! The IPVanish app will now use WireGuard automatically whenever you connect. For optimal speeds, I recommend WireGuard UDP.
If WireGuard is grayed out or you‘re unable to connect after switching protocols, a quick uninstall/reinstall of the IPVanish app typically resolves any issues. IPVanish‘s 24/7 live support is also available if you need troubleshooting assistance.
Real-World Use Cases: When WireGuard Makes the Biggest Difference
Based on my testing, enabling WireGuard provides the most dramatic improvements in these types of usage scenarios:
Media Streaming at High Resolutions
WireGuard helps eliminate lag and buffering when streaming HD and 4K video from services like Netflix, Prime Video, YouTube TV, and more. Near-instantaneous response times enhance the viewing experience.
Gaming
Latency and ping times get slashed across online games when harnessing WireGuard‘s speed and stability. From shooters to MOBAs to MMOs, gameplay feels much smoother.
Torrenting
Peer-to-peer platforms like BitTorrent thrive on bandwidth. WireGuard delivers faster downloads and uploads so you can quickly grab Linux ISOs and other perfectly legal torrents.
Remote Access/Administration
Sysadmins and developers who rely on VPNs to remotely control devices and services will appreciate WireGuard‘s robustness and low overhead.
Based on my experience, any VPN user who cares about speed and performance should enable WireGuard. But don‘t just take my word for it…
"It‘s Been Flawless" – IPVanish User Impressions on WireGuard
Across Reddit, blogs, and other forums, long-time IPVanish subscribers have chimed in on the transformative impact of WireGuard:
"I‘ve tested WireGuard on mobile and Windows 10. It‘s been flawless. Speeds are consistently faster than they ever were and latency is lower. I‘m thrilled IPVanish implemented WireGuard!" – u/newslooter
"WireGuard on IPVanish is incredible. I‘m getting 200-300 Mbps on SpeedTest, whereas before I‘d max out around 50 Mbps. Super crisp video streaming too. OpenVPN feels ancient compared to WireGuard." – u/VPNDave
"Enabled WireGuard on my Android phone and immediately noticed a difference. Pages and videos load way quicker now. My new go-to protocol for sure." – u/ privacy4lifeonline
"WireGuard owns! I get to max out my ISP‘s crummy 40 Mbps upload and download now, no more trickling speeds. IPVanish came through big time adding this support across all platforms." – u/torrent_torrent_torrent
The consensus is clear: WireGuard is a massive upgrade for IPVanish users across the board. But it‘s not just subscribers who are cheering this update…
IPVanish‘s Executives Explain Why WireGuard is a Game Changer
In the company‘s official WireGuard announcement, IPVanish leadership explained their rationale for adopting this next-gen protocol:
"At IPVanish, we’re always looking for ways to enhance our service for our valued customers. After carefully evaluating WireGuard, we realized it was time to give our users the speed, reliability, and security improvements they’ve been asking for."
"We’re committed to providing our customers with the most advanced VPN technology on the market. With built-in support for WireGuard, we’re able to deliver faster connections, increased stability, and an overall improved experience to our global user base."
IPVanish also cited WireGuard‘s open source foundation as a key factor in their decision to roll it out. Open source code means greater transparency, more frequent security audits, and confidence there are no ‘backdoors‘ baked into the protocol.
Judging by the overwhelmingly positive user response over the past several months, IPVanish‘s move to WireGuard has already paid dividends by cementing their status as one of the fastest, most trusted VPN providers.
The Future Looks Bright for WireGuard Adoption
With IPVanish paving the way, it‘s only a matter of time until WireGuard becomes the standard VPN protocol across the industry. More and more providers are actively developing WireGuard support, and its benefits are simply too compelling for companies to ignore.
Based on estimates from some of the top commercial VPN services:
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ExpressVPN plans to offer WireGuard as an option on all servers by the end of 2022.
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TunnelBear is currently beta testing WireGuard with plans to finalize in 2022.
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Surfshark users can already utilize WireGuard on Windows and Android clients.
In the long run, I predict that WireGuard will eventually supersede OpenVPN as today‘s go-to protocol thanks to its superior speed, security, stability and simplicity. IPVanish customers are already reaping the rewards of WireGuard, and soon a majority of VPN subscribers will likely make the switch as well.
The Bottom Line: WireGuard is a Game Changer for IPVanish Users
With full support for WireGuard across all major platforms, IPVanish has demonstrated they offer the cutting-edge features their users demand. By adopting WireGuard early on, IPVanish subscribers can now enjoy:
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Vastly improved speeds – Up to 2-3X for some users
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Lower latency for smoother streaming, browsing, gaming
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Easier connections and quicker setup than OpenVPN
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Top-tier encryption powered by modern cryptographic standards
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Better battery life, especially on mobile devices
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Enhanced reliability and stability
If blazing fast speeds are your priority in a VPN, WireGuard support vaults IPVanish to the top of the list. For new and existing users alike, enabling WireGuard is a quick and easy way to maximize performance across all your devices.
