Surfshark has introduced a new VPN protocol called Dausos, which aims to rethink how VPNs work for everyday users. Instead of relying on existing protocols like WireGuard, OpenVPN, or IKEv2, the company has built this one from scratch with a focus on performance and security.
That is an interesting move because most VPN providers still depend on protocols that were originally designed for enterprise use and later adapted for consumers. Surfshark believes that approach has limitations, and Dausos is its answer to that.
The company claims that Dausos can offer up to 30 percent faster speeds compared to the fastest protocols currently used in its network. If this claim holds up in real-world usage, it could make a noticeable difference.
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But speed is just one part of the story. Dausos also changes how VPN traffic is handled. It creates a dedicated tunnel for each user. So, your data does not travel alongside other users on the same path. This should reduce congestion and also improve privacy.
Dausos uses a hybrid post-quantum key exchange that combines ML-KEM and X25519. It also uses AEGIS-256X2 encryption instead of the more common AES-GCM. Surfshark says AEGIS-256X2 performs better on modern hardware while still offering strong protection. The company is also positioning Dausos as quantum-resilient, which basically means it is designed to stay secure even as future computing technologies evolve.
Adaptive performance is another useful feature. The protocol can adjust based on your network and device. So if you are switching between WiFi and mobile data or using different hardware, it will try to maintain stable performance without you needing to tweak settings.
Surfshark also says the protocol has been independently audited by Cure53, which adds some credibility to its security claims.
Right now, Dausos is only available on macOS through Surfshark. But the company says support for other platforms is coming soon.
