PPTP has been discontinued, and here's why!

What Is PPTP?

PPTP (Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol) is one of the earliest VPN protocols, developed by Microsoft in the 1990s to enable secure remote connections over the internet. It works by encapsulating network traffic inside a tunnel using GRE (Generic Routing Encapsulation) and securing it with PPP (Point-to-Point Protocol) authentication and MPPE (Microsoft Point-to-Point Encryption).

At the time, PPTP was revolutionary — offering a simple way for businesses and individuals to access private networks securely from anywhere. It became widely supported across routers, operating systems, and mobile devices, making it one of the most accessible VPN technologies of its era.

The Setbacks of PPTP:

Despite its historical significance, PPTP has major security flaws by modern standards. Its encryption relies on outdated algorithms such as RC4, and authentication often uses MS-CHAPv2 — both of which are easily broken using modern computing power. In fact, attackers can crack PPTP authentication within minutes using widely available tools.

Additionally, PPTP’s reliance on GRE can cause stability and firewall traversal issues. Many networks block GRE traffic, leading to unreliable connections. These limitations have led most major operating systems, including macOS, iOS, and Android, to discontinue native support for PPTP altogether.

Simply put, while PPTP may still function, it no longer provides the level of privacy or security expected in today’s online environment.

Why Choose WireGuard Instead?

WireGuard represents the new generation of VPN technology. Designed with simplicity, speed, and strong security in mind, it uses state-of-the-art cryptography (such as Curve25519 and ChaCha20) and a minimal codebase — making it not only faster but also easier to audit and maintain.

Unlike PPTP, WireGuard is highly efficient and modern, offering near-native network performance with military-grade encryption. It’s also cross-platform and supported on most modern routers and operating systems.

In short, WireGuard delivers what PPTP once promised — but with the security, speed, and reliability needed for today’s internet.

Conclusion:

PPTP served its purpose in the early days of VPN technology, but its time has passed. For users and organizations who value performance and privacy, WireGuard is the clear choice — combining cutting-edge cryptography with a lightweight design that ensures both speed and security.