VPN or SSH, which provides more security?

Once your data has crossed the threshold of your device, it will have to go through an unsafe road to its destination. VPN and SSH can serve as a guarantee of safe data travel.

VPN or SSH, which provides more security?

What does SSH mean?

SSH, also called Secure Shell, is a cryptographic protocol that provides your devices with a secure connection to an insecure public network. The principle of operation of SSH is to use a special SSH server, to which applications that support SSH technology are connected. This principle is often referred to as client-server architecture.

The main objects to be protected with SSH are logins and passwords, command lines and remote commands. The shell is specially designed for users to quickly execute commands on remote systems with remote access over the SSH protocol. The second advantage will be the confidentiality of file transfers. You can access your files and other data by logging into your SSH account when transferring them.

SSH authentication is performed using public-key cryptography. This method is secure because only users with a private key can access the data. This mechanism allows you to protect your data from being hacked by cyber criminals.

What is the SSH tunnel mechanism?

The SSH protocol provides a so-called encrypted SSH tunnel. This software protocol regulates the transmission of unencrypted data by users over an encrypted channel. Thus, the technology ensures data protection.

SSH resembles SOCKS proxies to many, and can act like SOCKS proxies due to its strong encryption. The SOCKS protocol uses a proxy server to transfer data between the server and the client. The bottom line is that your IP address will be changed long before your data packet reaches its final destination. Proxies are needed for SOCKS in order to provide UDP and TCP protocol connections using IP.

A synthesis of SSH and SOCKS will allow your traffic to securely access your local network through an intermediary - a proxy server, and then through an SSH tunnel, which will make it look like your traffic is coming directly from the SSH server.

What does VPN mean?

A virtual private network is often referred to as a VPN for short. Its purpose is to redirect your traffic through an encrypted server tunnel, thereby changing your visible IP address and creating a secure, impenetrable path of data. The privacy of your device and browsing will be protected and cyber scammers will not be able to hack and intercept your personal data by revealing your IP and location or seeing the content of your data transmission.

Using VPNs has gained popularity in both private and business Internet security. VPNs often require no special skills to use, and paid services provide enhanced protection with strong encryption protocols to protect the privacy of each user.

It may seem that SSH and VPN are one and the same, but they are not.

What provides more enhanced security SSH or VPN?

Let's compare their security criteria in more detail.

SSH

Advantages

• Simplified configuration is performed at the server level.
• DNS or IP address spoofing, identity theft, IP rooting is no longer a threat to your security, because your data is securely encrypted.
• Simplified hosting control.
• For webmasters, this method of accounting for accounts on web servers is preferable, since remote control over the server is possible using SSH.
• Simplified access to logins and passwords as well as site permissions.

Disadvantages

• For novice users, the setup may seem complicated.
• Encryption is limited to a number of applications, not all traffic. That is, for the SSH tunnel, each application will have to be configured individually. On the contrary, VPN provides strong encryption of all traffic from your device, which eliminates the need to encrypt applications individually.

VPN

Advantages

• Automatic encryption of all your traffic without exception using VPN, the ability to implement it at the level of a gadget or the entire network, if we are talking about a router.
• Paid VPN services provide access to a variety of servers available around the world. You can easily switch between locations depending on your needs.
• VPN is suitable even for those who are poorly versed in network features. Your personal data and IP address will be encrypted in just a couple of seconds. Reliable VPN providers provide premium features such as 24/7 support for any connection issue.

Disadvantages

• To set up VPN at the server level, you will have to try hard.
• Free VPNs can pose a risk to your privacy. Your data can be used against you by third parties (advertisers or scammers), you should not rely on the reliability of encryption.

Inference

Although SSH technology has a number of positive features, VPN still wins, especially when it comes to the average user.