OpenVPN can create a virtual private network, which allows you to transfer data in a more secure way. Likewise, it can create a tunnel by which all data from a subnetwork or virtual Ethernet adapter are transferred over a single UDP or TCP port.
The program is actually a client that uses an online service to mediate between your device and other servers out there. Moreover, it can be used for remote access and site-to-site connections. Its graphical user interface makes it quite easy to use, despite the complicated process going on under the hood. Fortunately, the VPNs created are based on the SSL/TLS protocol, which ensures security with one of the tightest protocols available.
As a service, OpenVPN has various additional advantages. First, there are clients for various platforms, which makes it available regardless of the operating system you are using. In addition, it provides site-concrete customization. Finally, it has a modular design, allowing for different types of implementation.
To sum up, OpenVPN provides a secure way to communicate through a VPN tunnel without any cost. The only thing I did not like about it was the initial configuration, which requires various steps before you can actually connect through the VPN; and, unfortunately, the documentation is not very clear in this respect.
v2.4 [Apr 20, 2014]
This is primarily a maintenance release with minor bugfixes and improvements, and one security relevant fix for the Windows Interactive Service. Windows installer includes updated OpenVPN GUI and OpenSSL. Installer I601 included tap-windows6 driver 9.22.1 which had one security fix and dropped Windows Vista support. However, in installer I602 we had to revert back to tap-windows 9.21.2 due to driver getting reject on freshly installed Windows 10 rev 1607 and later when Secure Boot was enabled. The failure was due to the new, more strict driver signing requirements. The 9.22.1 version of the driver is in the process of getting approved and signed by Microsoft and will be bundled in an upcoming Windows installer.
David Sommerseth (1):
management: Warn if TCP port is used without password
Gert Doering (3):
Correct version in ChangeLog - should be 2.4.5, was mistyped as 2.4.4
Fix potential double-free() in Interactive Service (CVE-2018-9336)
preparing release v2.4.6 (ChangeLog, version.m4, Changes.rst)
Gert van Dijk (1):
manpage: improve description of --status and --status-version
Joost Rijneveld (1):
Make return code external tls key match docs
Selva Nair (3):
Delete the IPv6 route to the "connected" network on tun close
Management: warn about password only when the option is in use
Avoid overflow in wakeup time computation
Simon Matter (1):
Add missing #ifdef SSL_OP_NO_TLSv1_1/2
Steffan Karger (1):
Check for more data in control channel
A program that lets you easily manage your laptop connections to WiMAX networks
