I speed-tested Surfshark's new 'heavenly' Dausos VPN protocol - how it compares to WireGuard
New protocol uses AEGIS-256X2 encryption and gives each user a private tunnel, aiming to beat WireGuard.
Surfshark has unveiled Dausos, a new proprietary VPN protocol designed from the ground up for consumer VPN services. Named after the Lithuanian word for 'heaven,' Dausos differentiates itself by providing each user with a dedicated traffic tunnel rather than sharing tunnels among multiple users. This architectural change aims to eliminate performance interference where one user's traffic load slows down another's. The protocol also employs AEGIS-256X2 encryption instead of the industry-standard AES-GCM, offering enhanced security and post-quantum protection. Surfshark claims these improvements can deliver up to 30% faster speeds compared to WireGuard, the current default protocol for most VPN providers.
Independent security firm Cure53 audited Dausos and found no critical or high-severity issues, validating Surfshark's security claims. Initial testing revealed some performance issues with residential connections at launch, but Surfshark quickly deployed fixes. Current tests show Dausos performs well for internet browsing and streaming services like Netflix and YouTube. The protocol is currently available in beta exclusively through the Apple App Store for macOS users, with plans to expand to other platforms. While VPNs inherently introduce some speed reduction, Dausos aims to minimize this impact through its dedicated tunnel architecture.
- Provides dedicated traffic tunnels per user instead of shared tunnels, eliminating cross-user interference
- Uses AEGIS-256X2 encryption for enhanced security and post-quantum protection
- Promises up to 30% faster speeds than WireGuard and has passed independent security audit by Cure53
Why It Matters
Could significantly improve VPN performance for streaming and browsing while enhancing security against future quantum computing threats.