If you’ve been on the internet for quite some time, then surely you know about VPNs. And if you know about VPNs, then chances are that you’ve heard the name ‘ExpressVPN’ either through YouTube ads or because you have it installed on your device and are using it to secure your connection.
But have you ever wondered how secure ExpressVPN is? Can it be hacked? Is it truly safe to use? Many renowned reviewers like VPNRanks experimented with this service and got wholesome results. In this guide, we have assembled some key points to answer these questions and see what makes ExpressVPN the best.
Safe Or Vulnerable? – A Guide To ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN is one of the most popular VPNs in the world and has been around since 2009. In that period, it has firmly established itself as a leading VPN service. It’s not considered the best for no reason. And people have tried to disprove this in recent years. So let’s take a look at ExpressVPN’s track record.
What Makes ExpressVPN So Safe?
The fact is that ExpressVPN is safe. People have tried to prove otherwise, but they couldn’t provide the right evidence.
The people behind this wildly successful VPN have gone through years of trial and error to ensure that users get the safest experience possible. Here are some of the features that guarantee ExpressVPN’s safety.
Encapsulation
Encapsulation, in brief terms, is the process of putting a data packet inside another more secure data packet to transport it safely to its destination without any loss in data or impact on the integrity of the original data packet.
Encryption
ExpressVPN also offers 256-Bit AES encryption. This kind of encryption is considered military-grade encryption and is considered virtually impenetrable because no computer or supercomputer in the world can penetrate it.
Protected Servers
Your data isn’t stored on ExpressVPN servers. Instead, it is held temporarily in a cache which is then deleted as soon as your VPN session ends. This is done every time, ensuring virtual privacy.
Secure Protocols
ExpressVPN is open-source and it is based on the OpenVPN protocols. OpenVPN is one of the most secure VPN protocols in the world and is trusted by all VPN services. ExpressVPN also has a proprietary protocol known as Lightway, which is based on the wolfSSL encryption framework. This combination of protocols ensures that your traffic is fully secure.
Secure DNS
A secure DNS is provided on every server that ExpressVPN operates. This ensures that your traffic doesn’t go through a third-party DNS that might make your data vulnerable. As such, there is also no risk of DNS hijacking or DNS blocking.
Protected On Public WiFi
Should your VPN connection become unsecured on a public WiFi, the kill switch will kick in and disconnect you immediately. However, even if the kill switch fails to activate, you don’t need to worry, as all your traffic will be encrypted heavily.
Can ExpressVPN Be Hacked?
It’s a valid question that has an authentic answer. The fact is that the sheer size of ExpressVPN invites threats. That is why ExpressVPN has white-hat hackers and penetration testers working day and night to discover any vulnerabilities to get rid of them.
It is unlikely that ExpressVPN will be hacked, but in case it does face an attack, here’s why we believe that it will easily hold up and won’t compromise user data or the integrity of the connection.
No Physical Hard-Disks To Store Data
When hackers penetrate a network, they will first target the data, which is usually stored on hard disks. But ExpressVPN doesn’t store its data on hard disks. So attackers could easily use backdoors to penetrate the system and access the hard disks. They could even be seized by the authorities. That is why ExpressVPN avoids this practice.
ExpressVPN Servers Are RAM-Based
RAM is volatile. It stores data in a cached form, and it doesn’t store it for long. Since RAM requires electricity to maintain its data reserves, the data is wiped as soon as the servers are rebooted. This ensures that no user data is retained at all.
ExpressVPN Servers Use Read-Only Images
Yes, ExpressVPN servers use read-only images, eliminating any risk of misconfiguration or inconsistency between the servers, creating a vulnerability. This means that when the time comes to update the servers or perform maintenance, the servers simply use the updated read-only image and sync the changes across each other without any significant downtime.
Is ExpressVPN Safe To Use?
So, the question comes down to whether ExpressVPN is safe enough to use. Here’s a story. Back in 2017, the Turkish authorities seized an ExpressVPN server due to an investigation that the server was a part of.
When they analyzed the server, they found nothing. The server was encrypted, and the data was nothing significant. This, in turn, boosted ExpressVPN’s image of security, proving that ExpressVPN adhered strictly to its no-logs policy.
So, yes. ExpressVPN is perfectly safe to use. After all, there must be a reason that it is still considered the best VPN in the world by the general public.
Conclusion
Hopefully, this blog was enough to allay any concerns or doubts regarding ExpressVPN’s security and integrity. If you are using ExpressVPN, there is no need to worry; if you are considering a VPN, you won’t find one better than ExpressVPN.
