Vergleich von VPN-Lösungen hinsichtlich Technologie, Sicherheit und Privatsphäre

Abstract

This master’s thesis examines Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) as an essential technology for ensuring the confidentiality and integrity of data on the public internet. Given
the increasing popularity of VPNs, particularly driven by a heightened awareness of
online privacy and the ability to bypass geo-restrictions, users face the challenge of
identifying trustworthy and effective solutions for their personal needs. A central issue
is the reliance on VPN providers regarding data storage practices, as well as the effectiveness of advertised features like geo-unblocking. Furthermore, concerns exist about
potential security vulnerabilities in VPN configurations and whether VPNs suffice for
maximum anonymity or if alternatives like the Tor Project are preferable.
The aim of this study is to systematically investigate these challenges. This includes
an analysis of VPN providers’ data storage practices, exemplary tests for bypassing
geo-restrictions, the identification of potentially insecure VPN configurations, and a
comparison of VPNs with the Tor Project concerning their anonymity and security
features.
The investigation revealed that the examined VPN providers consistently adhered
to their stated data storage policies and responded transparently to data subject access requests. Geo-blocking tests with streaming services such as Peacock TV and BBC
iPlayer were successful with most VPN servers, though individual issues accessing BBC
iPlayer were observed with CyberGhostVPN. Regarding OpenVPN configurations, it
was found that these are generally secure but could be optimized with additional parameters. No IP or DNS leaks were detected across the individual VPN solutions, but
problems with the kill switch functionality were identified for CyberGhostVPN and ExpressVPN during testing. The comparison between VPN and Tor indicated that Tor,
with its multi-layered routing structure, offers higher anonymity but comes with significant speed reductions and increased complexity, whereas VPNs provide a better balance
of security, speed, and user-friendliness for everyday use.

Date of Award	2025
Original language	German (Austria)
Supervisor	Markus Zeilinger (Supervisor)