ExpressVPN’s Lightway Protocol Upgrade: Enhanced Security, Performance, and Efficiency
Introduction
ExpressVPN is introducing significant upgrades to its proprietary Lightway protocol, aiming to elevate its security, performance, and scalability for the future. The company intends to reimplement Lightway in Rust, a modern and secure coding language.
Advantages of Rust
Lightway, along with other VPN protocols like WireGuard and OpenVPN, was initially developed in the dated C coding language. By transitioning to Rust, ExpressVPN anticipates several advantages:
- Enhanced Security: Rust’s inherent memory safety capabilities eliminate vulnerabilities and attack vectors prevalent in C, augmenting the protocol’s security.
- Improved Performance: Rust supports efficient multicore processing, enabling better performance and increased battery life.
- Agile Development: The nature of Rust’s architecture facilitates nimble and seamless enhancements to the Lightway protocol in the future.
Impact for Users
The Lightway upgrade translates into tangible benefits for users:
- Faster Speeds: Enhanced speeds optimize streaming, gaming, and downloads.
- Elevated Security: Bolstered security safeguards privacy and anonymity, particularly for journalists and activists.
- Improved Reliability: The upgrade ensures a more stable and dependable VPN service.
Industry Impact
Beyond its benefits for ExpressVPN users, the reimplementation of Lightway in Rust contributes to the broader VPN industry:
- Open Source Contribution: ExpressVPN makes Lightway’s open-source code available, inviting feedback and validation from cybersecurity experts.
- Industry Advancement: The upgrade represents a significant advancement in VPN protocol development, setting a new standard for security and performance.
Independent Audits and Validation
ExpressVPN commissioned two independent audits to validate the security of Lightway’s new source code in Rust:
- Cure 53: This cybersecurity firm conducted a thorough assessment, identifying and resolving minor weaknesses.
- Praetorian: A second independent audit confirmed the protocol’s high level of security, further validating its robustness.
Deployment Timeline
The Lightway in Rust implementation will be rolled out in phases:
- Aircove Routers: This week (subject to change)
- Android: End of March
- Linux and macOS: Second quarter
- Windows: Third quarter
Conclusion
ExpressVPN’s Lightway protocol upgrade in Rust is a testament to the company’s commitment to innovation and user experience. The enhanced security, performance, and efficiency will solidify Lightway’s position as a leading VPN protocol and empower users with a more secure, reliable, and seamless online experience.
